Ikiryō Ichizoku|生霊一族

[Princess]

-Ikiryō Ichizoku|生霊一族-

Descendants of the rare individuals known as ‘spiritualists’, a native group to Denchi no Kuni who sold their skills as mediums and a voice piece between the living and the dead. The modern Ikiryō are those who carry the connection to the spirit world in their blood, but persecution and experimentation from the early inhabitants of Otogakure destroyed much of the original culture of the clan. Now they live on as ghost stories, those few who unlock their heritage bringing their otherworldly powers to bear in the new age of shinobi they find themselves in.

 

 

Country of Origin: Denchi no Kuni|Rice Field Country|田の国

Clan Progenitor: Unknown Lord

Clan Head: None

Clan Status:
Mythical-Within Denchi no Kuni, the Ikiryō are rarely, if ever, remembered by name. More often, they are spoken of like ghosts, figures who would guard sacred places, deliver the weak and destroy those who would seek the downfall of the nation. Few among the citizenry of Otogakure or the surrounding townships put much stock in the story of the Ikiryō beyond its mythical status, save for those who read deep into the county’s history. Those who do find a few records, heavily censored by the early Otogakure ninja who were seeking to bring the Ikiryō’s power into their own hands, which prove the existence of clan, though little more beyond that.
 
Unknown-Outside of Denchi no Kuni, the Ikiryō are all but unknown. Records mention spiritualists from obscure parts of the land serving the early emperors before the rise of the ninja, but those records are ancient and poorly maintained in most cases.

Clan Age:
Ancient-The Ikiryō predate ninja, though it is unknown if they possessed the powers they now do in the ages of antiquity. They sold their services as oracles and diviners to the early emperors, and powerful lords who would pay for their abilities. Due to the small ninja presence in Denchi no Kuni, the Ikiryō had little reason to interact those who possessed ninjutsu, nor did those who possess it have much cause to interact with them. Regardless of when their powers developed, the existence of the Ikiryō spiritualists dates back much further than many of their shinobi contemporaries.

Clan Emblem:  
 
 
 
A purple orb, surrounding a skull that fades away to nothing at the base. The colour represents the Ikiryō’s ancient belief in their role as advisers and seers, and their association with purple and high positions. The skull represents their connection to death and the dead, and the fading elements of the skull show how the Ikiryō believe they exist in a unique state between the world of the living and the dead.

Clan Bloodline: Reikai no Hansha|Spirit World Reflections|霊界の反射

Clan Element: Void

Edited November 12, 2016 by Princess

[Princess]

-Clan History-

 

 
The earliest records of the Ikiryō exist in folklore and verbal storytelling traditions passed down for thousands of years. The legends state that once, in ancient times, a powerful lord had set up his power base in Denchi no Kuni. When he passed, rulership of his domain passed to his eldest son, as was tradition. The son had inherited large tracts of land from his father, but early on in his reign he had lost some of his father’s holdings to rival lords who were taking advantage of the death of the father. Feeling lost, he called out to his gods for aid, sacrificing his own eldest son for a chance at matching his father’s exploits. A regal bird drank from the blood of the sacrificed child, then flew up higher than the lord had ever seen a bird fly. Following the sign, the lord drank the blood of his sacrificed child. Upon doing so, he could see the spirit of his father, who guided his son to securing a small kingdom that lasted for an age. In time, as with most of the other small feudal domains at the time, the lord’s descendants lost their grip to another, power hungry lord, but the noble family of Denchi no Kuni survived the fall of their domain.
 
By the time recorded history came into play, Denchi no Kuni had established itself primarily as a nation of farmers, and the once noble descendents of the lord had evolved with the times. Instead of seeking to rule as their ancestor had, they instead looked to used their powers in the aid of their homeland, connecting those whose loved ones were gone with those they had lost. Though war was common throughout the lands, their role as producers of food kept Denchi no Kuni relatively safe, and the spiritualists were afforded some measure of leeway in travelling through foreign countries to sell their abilities to those who desired them. Time would go on, and the spiritualists were a rare but well respected group, but in the lead up to the end of the age, the land was rocked by the rise to power of the man who would become Emperor.
 
Seeking to win favour in the new imperial court, the spiritualists made grandiose displays of their power, walking through walls, impaling themselves with swords unharmed and calling on the spirits of the Emperor’s ancestors. To many, these were backwater parlour tricks, but the Emperor was impressed enough to keep a spiritual advisor on hand for the early years of imperial rule. Though they would fall out of favour and return to their native lands over the next few centuries, they retained a position of importance with the local Daimyo. 
 
When the birth of ninjutsu came, a small family from Denchi no Kuni, the Fuuma, were the most prominent recipients of its power in Denchi no Kuni. The spiritualists, seeing the changing tides of the very nature of the world around them, retreated further, refusing to venture outside of Denchi no Kuni, and allowing the Fuuma to take control of the defence of the country. They kept mostly to working with the Daimyo directly, occasionally serving as a discrete operations team, their ability to travel through walls making them invaluable for certain tasks. For over three hundred years, this worked out, and the spiritualists faded into the memories of the people, the stories of their ancient origins and achievements being all that remained of them in the mind of the general citizenry. 
 
 
With the arrival of the man who would become first Kyoukage, the disgraced sannin Orochimaru, the spiritualists were among those who remained loyal to the Daimyo. They served alongside the Fuuma who remained loyal to the Daimyo, but for all their combined might they were nothing compared to Orochimaru’s power. So overwhelmed, with their allies defeated and their Daimyo forced into surrender, the spiritualists decided to split themselves up, to deprive the invaders and traitors of the new village of Otogakure of their power. A small group failed to escape, and were subjected to the insane horrors that permeated the early history of the village. Others destroyed their clan compound, trashed all sources of their history they could, and integrated themselves with the population of the country. They worked to reinforce the position of the spiritualists as a mythical group, and destroyed the eyes that were key to their abilities.
 
With their compound, history and lore destroyed, the knowledge of how to activate their bloodline was lost. Given the obscure acts required to awaken the Reikai no Hansha, the bloodline died out when the last of its possessors passed away in 1978. Though the children of the spiritualists remained, they never awoke their heritage for fear of persecution, and many neglected to pass the knowledge of how to do so on to their children. Within a few generations, no one remained who possessed the spiritual arts of the ancient spiritualists. In time, some would even go on to serve as ninja for the village that had, at one stage, hunted them down in a cruel twist of fate, but it looked as though the Reikai no Hansha would be lost forever and the Ikiryō spiritualists forever lost to myth and legend.

[Princess]

-Noteworthy Clansmen-

 
Name: Unknown
Rank: Pre-Feudal Lord
Born: Unknown, believed to be around 3200 AF
Died: Unknown, believed to be around 50-60 years after birth
Allegiance: Ikiryō Dynasty
Speciality: Spiritualism, Leadership
About: Though little is known of the lord who is believed to have founded the clan, historical records and ruins believed to be left behind from around 3200 AF which bear the markings of an Ikiryō dynasty. If the legends are true, then this lord was the second ruler of the area under the control of the Ikiryō. His territory is believed to have spread much further than the current Denchi no Kuni, and he secured the foundations for a long-lasting dynasty in the prehistory of the world.
 
Name: Ikiryō Rei
Rank: Pre-Feudal Lord
Born: Unknown, believed to be around 2600 AF
Died: Unknown, known to be 58 years after birth
Allegiance: Ikiryō Dynasty
Speciality: Spiritualism
About: The only member of the Ikiryō dynasty for whom evidence exists. A tablet found amidst ancient ruins made note of the important goings on in the land at the time. The tablet mentions one Lord Ikiryō Rei, who died in battle at age 58, and his lands were overthrown by a rival lord. His defeat and death removed the Ikiryō from power, laying the foundations for the future of the clan.
 
Name: Ikiryō Sei
Rank: Adviser
Born: 1182 AU
Died: 18 AA
Allegiance: Imperial Court
Speciality: Spiritualism, Political Advice
About: Sei is listed in early imperial records as the first envoy from the ‘spiritualists from the east’, the descendents of the Ikiryō dynasty. It was he who showcased the powers of his family in the hope to gain the favour of the soon to be Emperor before he invaded their homelands. While many others derided his actions, the Emperor kept him around, cementing the presence of the Ikiryō in early imperial life.
 
Name: Ikiryō Gekai
Rank: Adviser
Born: 116 AA
Died: 148 AA
Allegiance: Imperial Court/Denchi no Kuni
Speciality: Spiritualism
About: Gekai was complacent with his position as spiritual adviser to the Emperor, and gave less effort to ensuring he kept abreast of political matters. After delivering critically damaging advice on numerous occasions, Gekai was banished from the imperial court, and his family banned from holding any office. He returned to Denchi no Kuni, and served the Daimyo there in an unofficial capacity, but died shortly after.
 
Name: Ikiryō Hanzai
Rank: Adviser/Bodyguard
Born: 1619 AA
Died: 1701 AA
Allegiance: Denchi no Kuni
Speciality: Spiritualism, Assassination
About: Hanzai is the ancestor who opted to pull the Ikiryō out of having a serious presence in the world. During his lifetime, the legendary Sage of Six Paths created ninjutsu, forging a new future for the world. With the Fuuma and other families now possessing powers far beyond the ancestral legacy of the Ikiryō, Hanzai arranged for the Fuuma to replace his clan as chief defenders of the country. The Daimyo insisted a small group of Ikiryō stay on to aid him as required, setting the stage for the next three hundred years.
 
Name: Ikiryō Isshou
Rank: ANBU Equivalent
Born: 1910 AA
Died: 1962 AA
Allegiance: Denchi no Kuni
Speciality: Bloodline, Special Operations
About: Isshou, the last historically documented Ikiryō, was the chief Ikiryō in the service of the Daimyo. A staunch ally of the Fuuma clan, when Orochimaru attacked he relied on his ninja comrades to form the front line against the sannin. When a large number of the Fuuma defected, and the frontlines crumbled before the invaders, Isshou and the clan head of the Fuuma held their final stand in the Daimyo’s palace, pitting the remaining strength of their clans against the might of one of the legendary sannin. Neither emerged from that battle alive, and the rulership of Denchi no Kuni passed to Orochimaru. Isshou’s only surviving child gathered what remained of her clan and scattered them throughout the country, ending the history of the Ikiryō.

[Princess]

-Clan Culture-

 
Genetic Traits:
The main genetic traits of the Ikiryō were purple hair, ghost white skin and, of course, the unique eyes that marked their bloodline. However, a series of techniques used by the Ikiryō during their attempts to hide themselves have permanently stripped their modern descendants of colour in their hair. Ranging from shades of ashen grey to snow white, the true genetic legacy of the Ikiryō only returns when the bloodline is awakened, returning the brilliant multi-shaded purple to the hair.
 
Clan Attire:
Though much of their history is lost, some few records remain which give an idea of what the clan attire of the Ikiryō once was. Long, flowing, sleeveless robes were common, decorated with chains. Long hair was common regardless of gender. The modern Ikiryō, having no knowledge of their ancestry for most their lives, do not know of this, though some who awaken their bloodline no doubt will search out their history and adopt their traditional styles.
 
Clan Beliefs:
The beliefs of the clan are lost to time, but any who have achieved the bloodline are overcome with the belief in two worlds, the world everything lives in and a spirit world which lies over the top of the mundane world. To those who cannot see what the Ikiryō see, this is easy to pass off as misguided beliefs, but the Ikiryō know these beliefs to be true. The one, overriding belief that has carried on from their past, is that Denchi no Kuni is where they belong. They may wander, and some may even live outside the country for a time, but no inheritor of the spiritualist legacy can stand to give birth outside their home country, for reasons none of them fully understand anymore.
 
Clan Holdings:
Several ruins of the ancient Ikiryō dynasty litter the landscape, but the Ikiryō hold no claim to these historic sites. The closest thing the modern Ikiryō have to clan holdings is their old compound, located near the Daimyo’s palace. It has long since been ransacked and destroyed, but efforts are underway to see it restored to a usable state.
 
Clan Relations:
 
-Fuuma: Both truest allies and hated traitors, those who learn of their legacy have mixed feelings for the Fuuma. Given the scarcity of the Fuuma in this day and age, and the historical isolationist nature of the Ikiryō, the Fuuma are the last real link to the Ikiryō’s past, driving many Ikiryō to seek them out in their quest to rediscover their past.

[Princess]

-Clan Rules-

 
Character Restrictions:
-Members must be born in Denchi no Kuni
-Members cannot take any of the following skills: Advancement Seal: Genjutsu/Concentration, Sealed Genjutsu, Feeble Mind or Damage Prone.
 
Clan Positions:
-The Ikiryō clan has a maximum of four available positions at any time.
-Upon reaching a total of four characters, the clan will be locked and new characters will not be able to activate the Ikiryō bloodline.
 
Clan Possessions:
-Skills, techniques and items of the Ikiryō clan cannot be purchased by characters outside of the clan.
 
Clan Roster:
-Jikken Uta
-[OPEN]
-[OPEN]
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Edited August 31, 2020 by Princess

[Princess]

-Clan Skills-

[Princess]

-Clan Techniques-

[Princess]

-Clan Items-

[Princess]

-Clan Bloodline-

 

Reikai no Hansha|Spirit World Reflections|霊界の反射
 

The Reikai no Hansha is, at best, a tale told to children in Denchi no Kuni. Once, or so the stories go, a powerful group of spiritualists could communicate with the dead, stare directly into the spirit of an individual or, if angered, tear the spirit from an unfortunate victim’s very being. Equal parts mystical guardians and vengeful spectres in lore, the bearers of these ancient eyes are said to have long since perished at the hands of Orochimaru’s cruel experiments and in a hazily remembered final stand as guardians of the Daimyo of the nation before he’s fall. Whatever the case, since 1962 AA sightings of the bloodline have been sketchy at best, traumatised war wounded claiming to have been saved at the last second by a pale eyed angel, criminals who have targeted the poor farmers of Denchi no Kuni muttering about spectres of death haunting them. Insofar as official records are concerned, the Reikai no Hansha no longer exists.

 

The truth, however, is a little stranger. Though divided now, the descendants of the rice country spiritualists still live on today, with the genetic memory of their bloodline hidden away. Few ever realise this though, as great lengths were gone to by their ancestors to limit the knowledge of the bloodline and their shared relation, to keep the safe from persecution or worse. The eyes, key to unlocking the Reikai no Hansha, cannot see what is dead until they themselves have died. Long ago, a ritualistic ceremony removed the eyes of young children in the clan for the required year before returning them ‘enlightened’. With the loss of these practices, it is only by rare chance that a descendant of the spiritualists will have their eyes removed but kept in tact, and an even rarer chance that they will be returned to be activated. Owing to the rare circumstances of activation, the vast majority who possess the potential for this bloodline will never know the power they carry.

Restrictions: The Reikai no Hansha may not be stolen or gifted via transfusion (full or semi) prior to the completion of the Rei o Mite ritual. The character must have the hindering skill 'Blind' to begin unlocking the bloodline.

 

Unlocking: A character wishing to unlock this bloodline must perform special acts to unlock each stage of the bloodline. Each stage has a level requirement, and once that level requirement is met the symbolic requirement can be attempted. Listed below is each stage and its requirements:

 

Rei o Mite Ritual: At any time once the character reaches level 15, they must have their eyes re-implanted surgically in a 1,500 word hospital thread. 

 

Reiniku Ritual: At any time once the character reaches level 30, they must reduce themselves to 0 ghost health (either in battle or an RP thread). Once they do so, they must perform a 2,500 word thread in which they navigate the spirit world to locate their body and reunite them, which will activate this stage

 

Reijitsugen Ritual: At any time once the character reaches level 70, they may target a defeated character that is unconscious with 0 Ghost Health. Once they do so, they may ritually consume the spirit of the defeated character. This process takes two consecutive Main Phases, and upon completion the defeated character is permanently killed and the character activates this stage. If, at any time between Main Phases, the character is hit by an attack the processes fails and must be repeated from the beginning. 

 

Stages: The Reikai no Hansha possesses two primary stages, the first representing what is seen and the second representing what is felt. As they grow into their new eyes, bearers of the Reikai no Hansha find that navigating the differences between the real world and the spirit world increasingly difficult. A third stage exists, but it is considered separate from the main stages in character as a forbidden path to walk down. The first stage (Rei o Mite) is simply a series of passive skills. The second stage and third stages (Reiniku and Reijitsugen respectively) make up the Advanced System of this bloodline.

 

Activation/Upkeep: The Advanced System of this bloodline take a Setup Phase action to activate and deactivate. Upkeep is paid at the end of every Setup Phase the Advanced System is active.

 

Rei o Mite|Seeing Spirits|霊を見て

The primary form of the Reikai no Hansha, this stage is the awakened form of the bloodline manifested in the eyes. The sclera turns a pale lavender, the iris varying shades of light blues and greens, and the pupil takes on a darkened tone of the iris, giving an unnatural appearance to the bearer. Though their outward appearance otherwise remains unchanged, with these eyes the bearer can see aspects of reality forbidden to others, the spirit world. They can see the spirits of those around them as shadowy doppelgangers, the power which gave their ancestors their role as spiritualists.

Requirements: Reikai no Hansha bloodline, completed Rei o Mite Ritual, Level 15

 

Soul Sight
As the user grows more used to viewing souls in combat, they learn to focus as much on their foes’ movements as their own. By matching their intent with their foes, the Rei o Mite bearer can accurately predict weak points in their opponent's spiritual defences, exploiting them to drastically enhance their restorative abilities.
Effect: The character can see the ‘spirits’ of all living things. Non-living objects such as stone, metals and the like, are not affected by this skill.
This character may, once per battle per rank in this skill, add the following text to one of their non-physical techniques which targets one or more opponents.
"This technique may critically hit". 
Requirements: Rei o Mite Ritual Complete, Bonded Ectoplasm
Ranks: 2
Cost: -1

 

Ethereal Perception
The body takes a short period of time to react to the messages sent from the brain, and while most people are conditioned not to notice the delay in through to action, the wielders of the Reikai no Hansha are uniquely adept at exploiting this fact. To them, the mind acts on a similar delay to messages from the spirit, which form an individual’s ‘intent’. By reacting to the intent as the spirit acts it out a split second before the body follows through, they are more able to respond to threats than one who relies only on reacting to what the body does.
Effect: Increase the user's Block Range by 2x, where x is equal to their rank in this skill. In addition, whenever the user successfully Blocks an attack due to a Dodge Roll, the user increases their Chance to Hit on their next attack this turn by y%, where y is the difference between the Chance to Hit and the user's Dodge Roll. This bonus is halved for Concentration based attacks and the value may not exceed 8x.
Requirements: Rei o Mite Ritual Complete, Bonded Ectoplasm. Ranks may only be purchased every 10 levels.
Ranks: 5
Cost: -2 for the first rank, subsequent ranks cost -1

Reiniku|Spirit Flesh|霊肉

To some, this is the true form of the Reikai no Hansha, though it is one rarely realised. For some, the ability to see the spirit world and interact with it is more than enough. Others fall victim to the addiction the use of this bloodline caries. Still others simply wish to become a part of the world they have grown to know so well and yet cannot be one with. To that end, the spirit and body are joined into one. A draining experience, and a dangerous one at that, though few who are caught on the receiving end of a ninja armed with this power would doubt its prowess. The hands and feet appear blackened, as if covered in ash, while the bloodline is inactive, and feel cold to the touch. While the Reiniku is activated, however, these blackened parts turn all but transparent and take on an intangible quality, which can be spread to other parts of their body with some effort. They hover just above the ground, granting them a ghostly visage which more than earns the tales of death spectres that originate with this bloodline.

Requirements: Reiniku Ritual Completed, Level 30

Upkeep: 5% Ghost Health 5% Chakra, all Advanced Regen is suspended while Reiniku is active.

 
Spiritual Impermanence
The result of merging the spirit and body into a single form is that is takes on aspects of both. These changes are fluid and difficult to control, but the end result is a body that is capable of ignoring physical matter in select circumstances. A powerful ability, though not one without downsides as they become more attuned to metaphysical matter, and with it attacks of the same nature.
Effect: For the sake of this skill, x is equal to the user's rank in this skill. While Rekai no Hansha is active, the character takes 10x% less total damage from attacks that deal Physical Damage. The character takes 10x% more total damage from any attack which deals Ghost Damage. All damage dealt to the user is converted to Ghost Damage after modifiers have been applied. When this Advanced System is deactivated, (100/x)% of all Ghost Damage dealt to this user while the Advanced System was activated is immediately dealt to them as Unmodified Physical Damage.
Roleplay Effect: The character may roleplay limited flight and levitation, and may pass through solid matter that is not chakra-enhanced. (The walls of a building are no barrier, but a earthen shield generated by a jutsu cannot be ignored.)
Restriction: Rank 1 can only be taken after the Reniku Ritual is Completed. Rank 2 can only be taken after the Rejitsugen Ritual is Completed
Ranks: 2
Cost: -2

 

Spectral Parasitism
The nature of the spirit world prevents objects belonging to it from dwelling in the real world for too long, a fate the wielders of the Reikai no Hansha know all too well. Their ectoplasm bleeds out as it is forced to materialise, and if they are not careful these warriors can accidentally weaken their spirits to the point of total spiritual exhaustion. To circumvent this, their spirits adapt to the real world, siphoning off what little essence they can to sustain themselves.
Effect: For every 10/x Ghost Damage this character deals they will heal 1 Ghost Health, where x is equal to their rank in this skill. 
Restriction: Rank 1 can only be taken after the Reniku Ritual is Completed. Rank 2 can only be taken after the Rejitsugen Ritual is Complete
Ranks: 2
Cost: -2 per rank
 

Reijitsugen|Spirit Realisation|霊実現

The final stage of the Reikai no Hansha, shrouded in equal parts mystery and fear. Though little known to those who have not studied the history of this bloodline, the act of fully consuming another’s spirit is recognised as a forbidden act even in the comparatively loose standards of Otogakure. Still, to those who seek power, there are few dark paths that can compare with the frightening majesty of the Reijitsugen. To mark the activation of this bloodline, a with the Reiniku the blackened parts of their limbs turn semi-transparent, and a shifting blue aura outlines their body, futher heightening the ghostly image they cultivate.

Requirements: Reijitsugen Ritual Completed, Level 70

Upkeep: 5% Ghost Health 5% Chakra, all Advanced Regen is suspended while Reijitsugen is active.

Passive Effects:

Once attained, Reijitsugen replaces Reiniku. All skills of the Reiniku are now treated as Reijitsugen skills.

 

 

Mastery Skills:

Ectoplasmic Mastery:
As an individual experiments with the potential mutability of ectoplasm, they find their mind needs to rapidly adapt to comprehend the boundless potential their bodies now possess. Some spend hours or even days just reshaping their body, and while the changes are momentary at best, in combat there is no doubt that the unpredictable nature of ectoplasm is one of the greatest assets the Reikai o Hansha grants.
Effect: As a Setup Phase Action, the user may deal 150 Unmodified Ghost Damage to themselves. If they do, they will immediately increase the block range granted by Ethereal Perception by 20 for x turns, where x is equal to the user's rank in this skill. If used while Reiniku or Reijitsugen are active, the bonus to Ethereal Perception is increased by an additional 5. This skill may only be activated once every x turns.
Restriction: Ranks in this skill may only be taken once per Ninja Rank. Rank 1 may only be taken after the Reniku Ritual is Complete, and Rank 2 may only be taken after the Rejitsugen Ritual is Complete.
Ranks: 3
Cost: -2

 

Hindering Skills:

 

Bonded Ectoplasm
Ikiryo are unique creatures, their spirits and physical forms are more closely intertwined than any other clan in the known world, but this connection comes at a price. Since ectoplasm makes up a significant percentage of their physical bodies too, excessive physical damage can cause their spirit to suffer a critical loss of ectoplasm, drastically weakening them when they need that strength most.
Effect: The first time each battle this character's Health reaches 15% of its total or lower, their Ghost Health is set to an equal amount unless it was already lower.
Restriction: Cannot be overcome
Cost: +1

Edited August 31, 2020 by Princess

[Azure]

Approved.

[Rhapsody]

Approved.