[PM][1st/10th/Captains] Week 198: Taishuu Practical: Our Legacy

[Apeiron]

Well this was just a jury made of warm and fuzzy wasn’t it? So far it was looking like a higher hill to fight up then before. Haresuno’s blood boiled as he listened to one on top of the other stack their doubts about the abilities of the two friends. More so, it appeared, at Haresuno himself.

The Adept wasn’t surprised at all that Theron spoke first, and if Lilith hadn’t been there to be his sanctum, he probably would have struck up a very bad first impression with the rest. The Third Division Captain was the last person Haresuno could see himself working with his anger not getting in the way. Again, unconsciously, Haresuno’s hand reached for the line at his neck where Theron had cut. He had specifically asked for the scar to not be healed.

Then came Senesati, and Katsuji, and Kusajishi. All placing their doubts out where everyone could see. The only fragment of help came from the Templar Queen Tsubaki herself. Though she didn’t support the two captain-potentials, she at least supported their effort.

Let them doubt, Haresuno thought to himself. Let them stack up these things which I will shatter. In all their cynicism, in all their hesitance to support these two shinigami who had walked side-by-side over the last two years, who had watched each other grow into who they were, these judges would not make them waver.

So Haresuno continued to watch, as Tsubaki dropped down into the arena, in silence, biting his tongue.

[438]

 

[Code of the Noble]

The nobleman rolled his sapphire eyes onto the Templar Queen. “I did not recall myself saying that I would deny anyones right to try. I merely said that I question his recommendation.

“If your words are at war for this man to take the practical exam, you may save those words for another time as I would allow him to test.”

The nobleman then turned his sights back onto Uchiharu and concluded, “Once he has proven to me that he has the skill to be called a Captain of the Gotei Thirteen, my position remains the same.”

Although Senesati had finished speaking his sights remained solely on Haresuno, not even the gust of wind that swept by made the noble bat a single eyelash.

 

[Eidolon]

Listening to the conversation flow around his initial statement, the Captain of the Third calmly reached his hand towards the hilt of Harbinger at his side. As the adopted of Anenokoji finished speaking his skeptical position, Theron made a very clear show of drawing the blade in an exaggerated slowness. "Bankai," he said in a flat voice. And for a moment, all was deathly silent.

The motion of drawing the blade finished with a snap Harbinger's tip pointed down into the pit, bisecting the space between where Lilith and Haresuno stood. It did not change with his utterance of the phrase, nor did the speaker release his spiritual pressure. "Every generation has one, perhaps two that are capable of harnessing this power. Those capable of merging with their sword so thoroughly that all of its power can be brought forth into this reality. But you are sorely mistaken if you believe that the mere ability to call forth your bankai is sufficient to join our ranks. The armor of the Captain Commander's approval will not ward you here. You stand before us for judgment, naked and unconstrained by assumptions of lineage, friendship, or even favor." With a quick flourish, the tip of Theron's zanpakutou snapped to point skyward before him.

"There is but one question: can you two, who have only recently come to understand the strength of a final release, stand shoulder to shoulder with those of us who have been fighting with such tools for generations?" With a quick step forward, the Herald moved off the ledge, plummeting into the pit with a heavy impact that scattered debris and rubble from old wounds cut into the landscape. "I'll find the answer to that myself, with this blade. And if I am not appeased by what I find, I'll be certain that you never disgrace the Gotei again."

[311/824]

 

[Apeiron]

”My oh my,” Haresuno spoke up for all to hear. Though Theron could make his blood boil, he was fairly certain he could do likewise to the masked captain. “Well, I guess if that’s your stance on it that’s that.” The tall shinigami’s eyes rolled over to the newly made cut in the ground. If that was the level of skill that Theron possessed.... His eyes wandered back to Tsubaki, the other captain who stood across the pit all cool and collected. He couldn’t help but smile, even in his anger, though it showed no animosity.

A slow and easy chuckle lifted from the Enchanter’s lips. “Well, this is certainly frightening. A fight with us two versus the head of the Eleventh, and the Kenpachi himself. I’m getting tingly all over.

“But why is there only one question?” he asked. “Shouldn’t there be more, especially from a man who’s taking it upon himself to see that the Gotei is not disgraced? What will happen if we do not pass this, Captain of the Third? Will you kill us in order to see that we do not try again when later we have grown into better leaders? Or do you plan to step in our way, at every step to personally make sure that the haori never comes within our grasp. Because I will gladly meet you at every obstacle, and show you how far my own tenacity spreads.

“Who are you to tell me how to grow?”

[688]

 

[Eidolon]

"Tenacity? Tell you?" Theron started in a soft voice. Slowly, the towering figure righted his posture from a fighting stance and flipped back the point of Harbinger to a new target: his own chest. "You just don't get it. Humans have an old saying: don't bite off more then you can chew. Time for you to choke, boy." And the harness on the Kenpachi's spiritual pressure snapped.

All along the chasm, auric reishi danced in the shadows, creating a subtly beautiful display of radiance. In a sublime contradiction, the effect of such a strong spiritual pressure roiling free so suddenly was simply chaos in its wake. Loose stones of small and even large sizes crumbled to dust under is wake, the scattered particles taking to the air to for a hazing vortex. Above, the sun itself seemed to recoil in surprise, a long, dark shadow casting down where all the Gotei's strongest had gathered. The very light of day blighted out by the coming dusk. But something rang different with the reiatsu of Theron Ascania.

None of the malevolence that seemed to seep through every weave of his being in recent times was present, instead replaced with a majestic sense of strength and overbearing certainty. The lion had been let loose from its cage. "Bankai."

[203/1027]

Notebeforeposting

Something is about to happen, wait for it . . .

 

[Beaks]

"Well that didn't take long." Tsubaki brought the sealed halberd of the ancient dragon about in a solid flourish, making no move to attack on her own. "To be honest I didn't think he was going to get this riled up so early." Taking an almost lazy step forward, Tsubaki vanished in a blur of shunpo stopping just short of where Lillith stood. As the diminutive woman materialized, the shining steel of her weapon rose upwards in a crescent arc.

[AD/566]

 

[swaswj]

"Enough."

Though the word was not shouted, it was enough to halt the two zanjutsu specialists. Tsubaki checked her weapon mid-swing, in a way that only the most adept sword master could. The Kenpachi, for his part, paused to look at Sayis, his weapon not yet released.

"Are all of you so eager to fight? So eager for bloodshed? Tsubaki, just itching to fight something just because you know your division is at risk? Well, prepare yourself. You are a captain, now. Your division members will often be in peril. They will always be sent into dangerous situations, and you cannot always be there to protect them. You cannot always be there to fight their battles for them.

"You will not always have a convenient excuse to vent those frustrations in combat."

The Soutaichou turned his glare on Theron. "Ascania, for your part, are you finding your words so bereft of recognition that you see need to cut down everything just to gain the respect you once held? One must heed your words or spill their blood? Your division will have a short lifespan if that is your response to doubt, if that is how you react whenever someone questions your judgment.

"As a noble, one would think you'd understand the value of well-chosen words over rashly-drawn swords."

There was a light scrape of metal against stone as Sayis shifted. He dropped heavily down into the pit, spear in hand and held diagonally behind his back. His placid grey eyes met Lilith's stoic gaze and Haresuno's obstinate glare. "As for you two... what lessons did I ever give you that have you standing so calmly here? So ready and eager for this practical... do you have the slightest clue what you're getting into?"

Sayis reached to the white shitage, pulling its ends out of his hakama and spreading it open, baring his chest to the two supplicants. There was a visible widening of their eyes, a hushed intake of breath. Even Tsubaki might have flinched at the sight. The Soutaichou's chest was a map of battles, each one leaving its mark upon his flesh. One very recent one still hadn't fully healed: that of the final attack of the Quincy's own harbinger, Eve.

That wasn't the focus of this demonstration, however.

Pointing to a particularly nasty scar on the right side of his chest, a nasty, jagged wound that reached nearly to the middle of his chest and cut all the way outside -- in fact, though it was not visible, it extended all the way to mid-back as well -- Sayis raised an eyebrow at the two. Even that eyebrow had a scar through it. "This is one memento from my own taishuu. I very nearly died, even with the Gotei's greatest healer there to provide immediate aid. That is what you look forward to today. That is the sort of challenge you face to prove yourselves ready to join our ranks.

"Such calm... such bravado..." Sayis reached into his haori, leaving his shitage untucked and his scars bared. In one slow, smooth motion, Karil was drawn out into the sunlight. He waved Tsubaki out of the way, facing Lilith and Haresuno with sword and spear in hand. "If you truly understood what being a captain entailed, you would be terrified. Let me show you why.

"Attack."


[558/758]

 

[Code of the Noble]

Is he really going to allow them to test together? the nobleman thought, his eyes still focused on Haresuno. Well that would explain why the both of them are here at once.

The dignified captain threw the tail of his haori around his back side with the use of his golden arm. His long raven locks bounced up and down in the winds which was mustered due to the release of spiritual pressure and raw emotions from the other captains. Although Sayis challeneged the both of them, Senesati knew that this would be no easy task for either of them.

Senesati then looked to the Head of House Ascania and shook his head in disappointment.

 

[Beaks]

"For all your words and scars you understand nothing, Inuzuri." Behind him the Templar Queen remained, the silver halberd remaining steadfast in her grip. "I did not descend into this pit to vent whatever frustrations I may or may not have against these two. If I am to remain behind while my entire officer core goes into that damnable desert, I am going to see that they are properly measured. That's not going to come about by cutting these two into pieces and leaving them broken and scarred."

With slow and deliberate steps Tsubaki walked in front of the Soutaichou, her own face mere inches from his own. "I attempted to warn you about what lies in that desert before we sent scores of our own out there, and you denied me that. My friends and loved ones are risking life and limb right now for all I know, and your two strongest remain here and enjoy some level of safety." Her eyes shot downward for a mere second to the Arcane Captain's chest, then back up to his unflinching features. "You are not the only one here with scars, Inuzuri." Her free hand rose to the covering over her right eye, pulling it back slightly so the iris of hellfire beneath it bore cleanly into the man. "Count your blessings all your little hurts and injuries are superficial like those."

Flipping the covering back into place, the Templar Queen took several steps to the man's left. "You have forgotten your terror, Sayis of Inuzuri. For someone of your ability facing these two will be a trivial task, even if they are close friends of yours. If you face these two in the place of Ascania and myself, then I will face you." Around her the white flames of absolution danced like a tempest, the unyielding pressure hammering at the arena with a ferocity that the Reaper's Reiatsu had yet to fully realize. "Show me what it is to be a Captain, to not care whether my friends live or die...so that I am never like you."

[347/913]

 

[Code of the Noble]

“Are you mad, Tsubaki?” the nobleman questioned.

Mixed emotions stirred the battlefield. Senesati would side with the orders of the Soutaichou. If he says he will face these two for the title of captain, then so be it, even if that meant Senesati himself would not be able to test Haresuno. The dignified captain vanished into a flash step and appeared before Sayis, his weapon still remained in its sheath.

“I understand that the Soutaichou does not require any aid to dispose of the both of you. But my duty and allegiance are with him. Theron, you should be ashamed of yourself calling yourself the head of a noble house, furthermore a captain, acting in such a manner. What a horrible example the both of you are setting for potential candidates."

He placed a hand on the hilt of Ouritsu Tatsujin. “I will no longer stand idly by without action.

"If you are challenging the Head Captain then you will have to go through me as well,” he concluded drawing his blade.

 

[Rob]

Nudging the awfully quiet figure of Makoto Matsumara, Kaede silently bend her head towards his and said barely audible, “Oh, well isn’t this marvellous! Very first day of actually doing important shit and already I’m thrown into an internal dispute!

“How glorious! We conducted thorough mental-examination on the subjects in the form of a moral, and now you’re telling me they don’t understand jack? I thought the whole reason of a moral was to see if they understood what it was like, to see if they even so much as showed a slimmer of that which we want to see in a captain?

“I mean yeah, sure, I wholly see what you guys are trying to accomplish, but geez... why couldn’t my taishuu be like this because, honestly, this one looks so much more interesting!”


[135/wc]



Dips (7/19/11 1:10 PM): I'm not dead...yet. I'll [further] hijack this post with a response when I get back from work.



“Oh… my,” the healer managed in a broken fashion, stifling a massive yawn in between words. “Things do seem to be getting quite contentious and we’ve barely even begun.” These words he said aloud, but from there he continued in an undertone speaking only for his former vice-captain’s ears.

“You know, I’d hate to say it but… perhaps with a microscope, I could see why the Forty-Six thinks of us as petulant children.”

As Kaede continued with her thoughts on the matter, for the first time since arriving on the scene Makoto allowed his fatigued visage to split into an ironic smirk. “But alas, ‘interesting’ usually makes more work for the two of us.”

[114/310]

 

[Beaks]

"Mad?" The woman showed no hint of fear as the noble drew his blade. "Anenokoji, I am not challenging the Soutaichou." Her left eyebrow raised slightly as she spoke, the butt of her halberd resting firmly in the stone underfoot.

"I am challenging all of them."​

"I will engage Vice-Captains Maikeru and Uchiharu as they fight against Captain Inuzuri, and I in turn will engage him as well." Her empty hand flexed in preparation for the battle to come. "And should you or any number of the other Captains wish to take part, I will engage you as well." In her grip the weapon glimmered to life as it assumed the first form of the unyielding wyvern. "I may not be there to fight the battles of my subordinates, but all the same I will not allow this man to fight mine for me either."

The maw of her massive hammer opened, the twin lines of jagged fangs brimming with smoldering hellfire. "If your honor will not allow you to stay your hand then by all means fight me, Anenokoji. Otherwise, I would move."

[184/1,097]
Yes I did, yes I did. Somebody please tell em' who the fuck I is.

 

[Eidolon]

Just as quickly as Theron had stepped towards the brink, he allowed himself to step back. Turning to address the Soutaichou, Harbinger found its way into the sheath at his side in an instant, the cold steel vanishing just as swiftly at the presence of the Captain's spiritual pressure. His steps were calm and even, and his head dipped for respectfully as he passed the silver-haired warrior by. He paused a moment, just long enough to exhale a breath after the words of criticism had finished, before reappearing on the top of the canyon's ledge with a lazy flash step.

"The orders of our Soutaichou are absolute."

[107/1134]

Only for those with tremendously acute hearing, or Sayis

"I had hoped to spare you this scar by doing it myself. Whatever all others think of me, Sayis, I hope you can divine my intent.

 

[Code of the Noble]

Upon hearing Theron’s words, which were meant for Sayis, Senesati’s deep blue eyes bounced open out of shock.

His intention was not against Sayis, but for him. I underestimated you, Theron Ascania.

He then narrowed his eyes at the Templar Queen, his position still fixated as it was before her speech. “Your words do not frighten me, Tsubaki. As a Captain of the Gotei Thirteen, you know I will not change my mind or position. The only one here that can give me an order against my decision is the Soutaichou himself.

“I hope you are prepared for what lies ahead.”

Although the Spell-sword Captain knew Tsubaki had him beat in terms of raw spiritual pressure, he would not back down from his stance.

Note

Pfft I aint scurred.

 

[IshinOnigami]

"Seriously? You all act like this in front of two hopefuls? I would like to point out I'm the one that is supposed to make a fool of myself."

Ishin had stayed silent during the entire exchange, knowing full well that there were undercurrents that he did not wish to be caught up in. It was, however, in everyone's best interest to calm the situation. Theron had helped, backing down from the Soutaichou, but Tsubaki was being difficult as always. It was to her that Ishin next spoke.

"Tsubaki, there are all manner of scars, as you are well aware. You and I have both served with and lost people of great influence to us, and for that I am sorry. You worry for your officers, however appropriate, is misguided in this situation. If Sayis wishes to challenge them, that is his prerogative as our commander. He believes that he can be an impartial judge, and while I'm not completely convinced of that, I trust his ability to fight. Please back down this once."

He turned on Senesati next.

"I think the situation has gotten far enough out of hand without adding fuel to the fire, don't you? I ask that you back down as well."

 

[Code of the Noble]

Senesati did not redirect his sight away from the Templar Queen as he replied to the Captain of the Seventh, “In case you did not hear me the first time, Ishin Katsuji.

"I will only sheath my blade on the order of the Soutaichou, unless of course, Tsubaki wishes to withdraw her assault and contain her emotions.”

 

[swaswj]

Tsubaki's reiatsu pounded down on the gathered, weakening the knees of the weakest among them and bearing a noticeable weight even on the shoulders of those like the Kenpachi and the Soutaichou. This, even while Sayis revealed no reiatsu at all.

The Soutaichou, for his part, closed his eyes. There was an ill-contained look of irritation on his face.

The sword in his right hand was held firmly. As Tsubaki and Senesati verbally sparred and postured and traded threats, Sayis opened his eyes again. He was looking at Lilith and Haresuno, the two captain-hopefuls who were, thus far, standing quietly by in the wake of this fiasco. That sword began to glow with a pale blue-white light and he tightened his grip on the heavy broadsword.

Sayis turned to the left, looked straight at Tsubaki. In a flash, the sword was lifted straight overhead. A loud, incomprehensible chanting sound filled the air. A flash of blue as Sayis chopped straight downward through the air.

The blade came nowhere near Tsubaki, but she dropped to the ground as if it had cut her down in that single stroke, her hammer clattering loudly to the ground and reforming into a halberd. Her heavy reiatsu dwindled and vanished. She lay there, unmoving.

Sayis turned a glare on Senesati, stepping past the noble and over toward the unmoving form of Tsubaki. He slammed the sword downward, cutting into the stone right in front of the woman's face. Crouching down, he leaned close, his expression unreadable.

"My two strongest," he said, speaking to Tsubaki but making sure the others could hear, "stand before us today, as you have said. They stand before us because they have put forth the effort, given the blood, sweat, and tears that we all have. They stand here so that we, the captains of the Gotei Thirteen, can test them and see if they've given enough, if they've grown enough.

"My two strongest stand before us today," he repeated, "but they are not the only two precious to me. My closest friend since the Academy is in that twilit realm right now. A certain young man who she holds very dear to her, and who I have high hopes for, is out there as well. My current vice-captain is out in that wasteland for her first time, doing her best to lead the others.

"You think I don't care? You think I am casting them away to their fates?

"Do you see the woman standing right there? A fraction of your strength, Tsubaki, but she passed a test that you have just failed. Her subordinate, and close friend, was presented in a dangerous situation. She chose to trust him, to put her faith in him."

Sayis straightened to his feet, frowning down at Tsubaki. "I am a very strong man. I am capable of things that no one has attempted in centuries. Though I cannot claim to be a virtuoso on the level of Leon, of Theron, or of yourself, I am a skilled swordsman. I am a paragon of demon magic. I am a captain, and I am the Soutaichou. Even I know that I cannot do everything, cannot be everywhere... and more than that, I am wise enough to know that no one will ever move forward if I am there to coddle them and do everything for them."

Shaking his head, he took hold of Karil and ripped the sword from the ground. The blue glow had faded, leaving only the unadorned silver. He lifted the blade up, looking at his wavy reflection in the polished steel. "If I had done everything for Haresuno and Lilith, neither of them would be standing here today. Their trials were theirs and theirs alone to overcome. Facing those trials honed them, sharpened them into the fine specimens we see before us now, in the same way that the trials we faced shaped us into who we are.

"Now they have another trial to face." Sayis looked off to the right, returning his full attention to the two. "That is why we are here today; not for you, not for Theron, but for them." Leaving Tsubaki lying lifeless on the stone, he walked toward Lilith and Haresuno, sword and spear at the ready, uniform billowed open to show those grotesque scars.

"If they cannot overcome this trial, then we can spare them from a difficult road they're not yet ready to tread." Pointing his sword at Haresuno, then Lilith, he repeated, "Now as I said: attack!"

[750/1508]

Beaks

Stay down for a bit. Have a little faith that I'm going to let you have your moment and stop trying to take theirs.

 

[Code of the Noble]

With the actions and words of the Soutaichou, Senesati needed not for an additional order to withdraw his position. The dignified captain sheathed his blade and vanished from the battlefield, appearing at the top of the pit once more, this time, as an observer and nothing more.

 

[Apeiron]

The events had transpired, and now only there was only one avenue left. The details were stored away to be looked upon later, so there was no hesitating for the two friends. That said, Haresuno couldn’t shake some horrid dread that loomed at the bottom of his spine. Maybe he had been childish, standing there calling the challenge instead of heeding a bit more caution. He would see in later reflection, though, that there was no wrong in his actions that day. Especially with what came next.

For a moment, the Adept looked to his friend and nodded a small acknowledgement at what was to come. He closed his calm cyan eyes, and when they opened again, they were the fighting azure that burned passionately with his resolve.

"Sayis Inuzuri, Soutaichou, Commander of the First, and much more to Lilith and I,” his right hand alone rose up and ran parallel with the ground for a second, "it is not with any favor that I say this to you before we begin, but with the same courtesy I would still offer to any of our judges.” He stepped away from Lilith for a moment. And then, with all sincerity he said, "Thank you.” His words fell from his mouth and to seal the event’s beginning, Haresuno snapped his fingers.

The earth below Haresuno began to roil in all directions. It scaled the walls of the Proving Grounds and shook the very dirt the captains stood on. Within the pit, it started swirling around the raven-haired man. It picked up Lilith, Sayis, and Tsubaki. The earth continued to churn, moving everyone like chess pieces on a board until the arena was much larger then before, and the walls were much taller.

Then, everything went still.

Like bubbles rising from the depths of the ocean, stone began rising out of the earth and weaving itself into a grand structure.

The three participants were now standing at opposite ends, both sides giving way into an expansive portal that lead into hushed lighting. Sayis on one end, and the two friends on the other. And from the other captain’s position, they were looking down into a labyrinth’s open roof. Even the Templar Queen was safely placed above.

Only they could see the hazards of traversing the maze from their position, and Haresuno knew what hidden dangers lurked for any who strolled.

"Don't worry about the scenery, I'll put it back, honest,” he said to himself. The maze would buy them time, and hopefully the traps he had laid out for the Soutaichou would slow him down, or even better exhaust him. Turning to Lilith, he smiled, "Ready?”

[1134]

Note:

Say hello to God Hand when used pre-battle.

[God Hand]

Founders are uniquely tied to the world in a physical sense. A rope that allows them to feel the interwoven spiritual particles of any world with an acute awareness. Making their senses keener than most because of this intimate relation, and helping them to understand the world around them. The true reason behind this new-found enhancement, is the ability to manipulate the very fabric of reality to their own desire.

Outside of battle, a Founder has the opportunity to alter the world according to their whim. Able to take a desolate canyon and make it into a field of flowers if they so choose, and have the power to. This allows a Founder to even establish traps where ever they so choose as well within their domain, making them formidable planners and tricksters.

Within combat a Founder’s ability to access [God Hand] is not revoked, but due to the strenuous conditions of a fight, their focus is greatly reduced. For the price of 500 reiatsu a Founder is able to twist a 5 m area to their control and shape it. This may only be used once per turn and only a maximum of 10 m may be altered at one time.

 

[Divine Truth]

In the ringing silence that fell upon the great chasm, a long, low whistle sounded from the lips of the healer captain. “Yep, we are definitely going to be put to work.” Makoto couldn’t help but sigh in a resigned manner as the Soutaichou reiterated his command for the supplicants to begin their (frankly paltry) assault upon his person.

Tsubaki just had to go and get him all riled up, didn’t she? the nobleman thought bitterly. If there was anything the accomplished healer couldn’t stand it was senseless savagery. And while the testing of potential captains was a necessary evil and wasn’t exactly ‘senseless’, it would mean savagery nonetheless. Considering the bringer of doom was Sayis Inuzuri himself this time around, it would be a completely different brand of ruthlessness that would befall the unlucky pair. Makoto knew this without a shadow of a doubt.

Just as the beginnings of a frown began to settle into place upon the nobleman’s face, his muscles relaxed and a slightly humored expression took its place. “Welcome back, Senesati,” he greeted with a raised eyebrow as the fellow highborn captain made his return to the safety of the gorge’s ledge. “It seems your sense of when to ‘exit stage left’ is quite sharp.”

[209/519]