What Rotten Luck! [Release Request]

Note: This is not an XP request. These threads will be part of separate arcs which will be submitted at a future date.

Threads----------------------------------------------------



Chapter 1: Two Peas in a Pod // Here we see that, despite his Noble Blood and 100 year long career, Zenji is nothing more than a mere paper pusher of the First Division, a Records Clerk with a tiny corner office. Unambitious and unconcerned his greatest concerns in life seem to be getting rid of troublesome paperwork and trying to get his work colleagues to speak their minds.

Chapter 2: The Reaper’s Healer // In the aftermath of his battle against the deadly Hollow Acedi Zenji is found unconscious and saved by the Mortal Spiritualist Angeni. This is the first proper conversation he has with his Zanpakuto Spirit but the Spirit doesn’t reveal her appearance or name. After finding out that his patrol partner Suki didn’t survive the battle against the Hollow Zenji resolves to be better and not to let her death be in vain.

Interlude: The True Nature of a Soul // While performing Jinzen his Zanpakuto reveals herself to name and brings him to her Inner World. However Zenji soon realises that he is being deceived and, knowing that he resides within his own Mind and Soul, the Shinigami tears the Illusion apart. This is the first time he realises the vileness of his Zanpakuto who seems to represent traits which Zenji despises or has generally repressed throughout his life.

Chapter 3: Push the limits! // Whilst the battle of the Hollow, and the loss of a fellow Shinigami, might have played heavily into Zenji starting to move forward with his life nothing has triggered such a strong response as his discovery of the Quincy. While hunting Hollow, haphazardly taking a mission to go alone against multiple Hollow just to swiftly make sure Quincy didn’t get involved, Zenji unfortunately runs into one of the Destroyers. Tired and wounded from combat with Hollow already he engages Kevin despite his state being unwilling to stand down.



Story----------------------------------------------------


Zenji has lived a sleepy and peaceful existence since his elevation to Head of the Hatayama Clan and his entering the Gotei 6. First he worked in a supportive role in the Third and when it was decided he’d be more useful elsewhere with his administrative work experience he was transferred to the First. For the longest time Zenji was content, unambitious, undriven and simply content with life.

Not long into his story his life is disrupted when he is commanded to go on a standard patrol in the World of the Living. This leads to Zenji engaging a Hollow in solo combat for the first time in his entire career. Although he survives, barely, his partner dies and Zenji is saved only thanks to the administrations of a nearby Spiritualist Healer. Upon awakening and discovering that the girl had already been dead so long that she likely passed before he got them away from the Hollow. Going to her corpse he recites a prayer to the Soul King and swears to become better so he wouldn’t fail any comrade again. In a way he feels that he must renew his efforts to not be a joke of a Soul Reaper anymore so that her death will mean something. During this incident he hears his Zanpakuto speak for the first time although he can neither distinguish it’s true form nor earn its name.

This brings us to now. Motivated by his need to limit the damage the Quincy, whom he recently discovered, are causing in the Karakura area Zenji responds to a Hollow alert. However over enthusiastic he fails to properly prepare for a hunt against seven Hollow. He manages to destroy five thanks to a mixture of luck, tactics and his now masterful level of Hado but is injured and worn out from the effort. Chasing a fleeing Hollow brings him into contact with another Quincy. Motivated by fear and an almost zealous hatred he engages Kevin in combat in an attempt to stop him from destroying any more souls. Although worried about his exhausted Reiryoku reserves his Zanpakuto appears outside his mind for the first time advising him to simply continue and that she may be able to help. The strange seriousness of the Spirit causes Zenji to trust in the advice. Despite some early hope Zenji’s last big hit is flawed due to the toll fatigue takes on him causing him to screw up the attack. Due to how worn down the Soul Reaper is he’s soon defeated, laid low by three strong physical strikes loosed by the infuriated Quincy.

Exhausted and unable to move, Binbōgami offers him her power.

The Influence of a Spirit----------------------------------------------------


Binbōgami represents much of what Zenji despises. Her open outbursts of rage are distasteful, her hubris is improper, her ambition is limitless and her deceit is immoral. Or so he believes. These are elements that Zenji, through his rather strict raising, was taught to either avoid or suppress.

However it is becoming obvious that these vices may be virtues in the right situation. It was Zenji’s burst of righteous anger that reinforced his friend’s new authority, it was deceit that allowed him to learn of the Quincy, it is ambition that has caused him to step back into the ring of aristocratic politics and to wish to begin climbing the Gotei ranks while his hubris is what has led him to the moment where he, at last, can achieve the prestigious Shikai release.

Zenji realises that as much as he may not like the Spirit he does need her. He has discovered and accepted her true nature and is willing to listen to her for his own good.

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Inner Spirit: Binbōgami- Binbōgami is a deceptive, selfish, feminine spirit. Appearing as a tall shrine maiden, with an athletic build and long black hair along with pale skin. Even with her glowing red eyes the women might be beautiful if not for the multitude of scars criss-crossing her entire body. She enjoys power and is willing to help Zenji in whatever way is required to make sure she gets it. Her voice can range from beautifully musical to deep with a skin crawling intimidated tinge.


Inner World: Binbōgami prefers to show the inner world as a beautiful, well kept, Shinto Shrine in the middle of an endless bamboo forest.

However behind the illusion is it’s true form is still a Shrine but one that is dilapidated with age and looks like it’s been purposely trashed. In its first form there is comfortable tatami matts and hot tea while in the latters there are no such luxuries. Beyond the confines of the Shrine is a dark impenetrable Mist that if Zenji ever entered he could become lost in forever. Binbōgami has never revealed if she can pass through it however or if anything lies beyond it.

Sealed Zanpakuto: The Sealed Zanpakuto takes the form of a shakujō, a ringed monk staff, however this is not unusual as it is the traditional form that all the Hatayama Shinigami Zanpakutos take.

Release Command: Jubaku (Curse)

Released Zanpakuto: Zenji isn’t much of a fighter and his release reflects this turning into a small kaiken that wouldn’t be much use in a sword fight even if he had the skill. The knife is very ornamental in design and looks more like an athame than anything designed for physical combat. When the ability is activated the blade dematerialises leaving only the handle behind.

Release Ability: When first activated the staff breaks apart revealing the kaiken resting within as if residing within it’s sealed form.

To activate its ability Zenji must say “Yaku” (Misfortune) causing Binbōgami to begin to smoke as black mist comes off the blade. The blade eventually transforms into black mist completely spreading out 10 meters in every direction with the weapon's handle at the epicenter. The mist rolls across the ground reaching to about waist level.

Those within the mist become cursed with misfortune which only grows the more the individual is enveloped by the murk. Leaving does not dismiss the misfortune, just limits the amount of exposure, however reentering the mist would simply cause the exposure level to rise.

However Binbōgami is not just a Spirit of misfortune but also poverty. By stating “Nomihosu.” (Drink up) the mist will slowly drain the Reiryoku of any of those within and give it to her wielder. This effect is quite minor normally, although exerting Reiatsu can intensify the absorption rate, and would usually only be noticed if the affected person was already tired. However even this small amount of energy can be useful to Zenji as a Kido specialist.

Zenji is only immune to the effects so long as he keeps the handle in his hand and, likewise, he only gains energy provided by Nomihosu if he is in physical contact with the hilt.

When the release is ended then so too will all of its effects.

Mechanical Notes: The speed at which Binbōgami brings bad luck to individuals is largely based on that person. If they’re unlucky to begin with then they’ll see the effects more swiftly. If they’re super lucky then it might take longer. From a OOC perspective this is largely for narrative use and will be up to the individual writers to decide on.

Meanwhile the draining of Spiritual Energy will affect weaker users quicker than it will affect people with a lot of Reiatsu. The speed at which this absorption occurs depends on their activity levels. At the moment this is purely narrative but I will open it up for reexamination if a stamina (or something similar) system is introduced down the line.

Skill Level: To reliably use Nomihosu requires a Zan Res level of Journeyman.


Power Tactics: The general idea for this Zan is to supplement Zenji’s poor melee skills and his heavy reliance of Spiritual Power.

In a drawn out confrontation it would allow him to survive by making his opponents unlucky while slowly regenerating Reiryoku at their expense.

A refined noble thrust into conflict and intrigue, a place that should be foreign to him but perhaps is starting to feel unnervingly comfortable. Let's dig in.

PASS - Writing - I have no strong complaints. Push The Limits feels a LITTLE inconsistent but hey you have plenty of time and room to explain why he hates Quincy so much, it's a stark contrast. Another note, I think you take the fall a little bit too easily in the final thread but you do the work to sell why Kevin is able to take Zenji on at least.
PASS - Release - I like the Spirit even if I feel the reveal came a bit flat it's still super fun to have an 'antagonistic' spirit. The ability doesn't need specific distances, but it's fine as a concept. You have two distinct effects here, but I think I can make that work mechanically particularly if you only want one of them mechanized but both are possible. The fact that it ends with the Release Ends works in your favor.
PASS - Moment - The moment here, I hope as intended, is The True Nature of the Soul. Following his harrowing adventure on Earth, Zenji takes a moment to reflect on his own soul and I like this a lot as a frame for First Release. It is exactly the kind of 'quiet' moment to serve as a counterpoint against the kind of ass pull heat of the moment (that I love) stuff that the rest of us are doing. I think it's handed a little freely, but given that I know what he had endured I am okay with it plus he does have a trial to overcome here which suits his more pensive nature. You didn't link Know Your Limits here which is where I really think Zenji earns this, so lucky for you I know it happened. Misstep not to include it, but something to keep in mind. If part of your emotional journey is in a thread and you are relying on it for release, make sure it's in the request even if you only highlight the pertinent parts. I think the reveal was a bit hasty and could have been built up more, it didn't have any significant impact because it was established and resolved in a couple of hundred words but I still like the premise and I like the interaction.
PASS - Impact - Fine stuff, a little solo in the middle is used EXACTLY how I like Solo's, brief, and as a reflection. Push The Limits serves as another's First Release moment, something I always like to see in Impact.

Congratulations, Zenji, from me and the rest of staff, you are approved for First Release!!!