Mizushin (Version 4.0)

[Warr]

The Fable of Umikoi Ebisu, and the Drowning Maiden

"The first of the Umikoi and their ancestors came from a single warning. Words rarely said; "The sea is not the place for man. You should not be swimming into it or going so deep. You should not be challenging the beasts of the depths or the gods who hold sway there."

The boy grinned stupidly; for he was stupid. A brute of the sea and the waves and the sun; of the way of the sail and the spear; not of the hearth and the hoe. He grinned with his stupid face at the elder that spoke those words in warning, and he made an declaration. “I will go to the sea and I will stay in it or near it for a month. When it is over; if I am dead- you can call me a fool and you can use my foolishness to teach the children to stay in the fields and away from the rushing waves. Teach them of the boogieman of the deep. But if I win; you have to let me do what I want. Do you hear me father?”

Then the youth took his foolishness, his sun and surf turned body; and took himself to the sea, on only a canoe. He braved the surf and he pushed his body and his boat onward. He survived for days on water he brought with him and fish he caught from the sea. He survived it, onwards for a week: Drifting in the tides and further from his home. To the heart of the ocean; which was his destination. If he could go to the heart of the ocean and gain something from it, he could prove that the sea loved him just as much as he loved it. He could feel it in his heart; as if the water was apart of him. From the first dip into the waters of the village creek as a newborn he had felt that.

And so this boy of great tranquility, called Ebisu; swam further and further, and paddled his canoe further and further, fishing and fighting fish that tried to knock his boat over. He traveled for two weeks; and then he met a dead fall. A challenge that he had not accounted for; and which he had no mental compass. He heard the call of a siren; the words of a young woman crying for help: For she was drowning.

How could one drown in a sea that loved him so? How could the sea not love all? He had to find out, had to save this person. His heart fluttered; his courage raged a mighty roar, as stupid as the boy was himself. He charged; he jumped. He dived, he swam. He made the moves of battle against the sea until he found this falling kinswoman; drowning in the sea, hair fluttered like a peacock's about her, red tresses spread against the tide; she floated downward, as if her last moments were gone. And he grabbed; he grunted, bubbles flew in a flock. Ebisu swam towards the top of the sea, burning his lungs as he did. And evil laughter came from below. Inches were being moved because a scaly, hook nosed beast had a hand on the girl's foot.

The stupid brute [Ebisu] did as stupid brutes did. He kicked at the beast with the force he could muster, trying to smash it's grasp of the girl. A kick to make a mule fill with envy; followed by another and another. The beast grasped the youth's leg, and yanked him down. It ripped the precious air from his lungs; and in that moment, as passion and fear should have overtaken him. Peace came; he felt like he was coddled against his mother's breast. His inner heart had opened; touched finally by his favored place; and by the thing which was so apart of it that he had learned to swim so well to prevent. The beast's grimy hand received another kick and then another, and the water threw this stupid youth skyward, with the girl he had tried to save. As if the water itself was pushing them, and tearing the beast's arm in half in the process. They landed upon the very rocks the Siren played her game at; that monstrous beast below used.

And the boy was in the land of the sky; he sputtered, throwing up the sea water in his lungs; collapsing on those rocks. The girl was safe; but she was probably dead. Thirteen days passed, and Ebisu found himself awake upon his canoe, nestled with his head in this girl's lap; her face as clear as the waters he had learned to explore in as a child, her hair as bright as the sun waving to him as he had played. She grinned at him lovingly; and then the day was over.

The drowning maiden disappeared; and Ebisu found himself home; his father staring out to the bay with worry upon his face. A boisterous statement had brought this on; but Ebisu wasn't paddling anymore. The water was moving it's body for him.

The legends are over; it's time for the reality.


 

The Water Heart of the Umikoi Clan; Mizushin

(Advanced System)

The bloodline of the Umikoi clan is not a singular trait but rather a collection of multiple little evolutions caused by their genetics. The fact that it is not a singular attribute that causes an awakening of a vestigial organ as is true of many other clans, is generally unknown outside of the membership of the Umikoi Clan's 'elder caste'. The bloodline is one that makes the Umikoi among the most formidable warriors, assassins, and guardsmen around, especially if bodies of water are nearby because unlike their fellow water breathers the Hoshigaki, those Umikoi with their Mizushin awakened, can actually sense movement against water's molecules like it was a sixth sense.

The true evolutionary traits which make the Umikoi Clan different of the bloodline's evolutions are a pair inborn features. The first being a dual respiratory system which filters oxygen from water and function exactly as gills would, complete with gill like growths behind one's ears. The second is an inbuilt chakra passageway [or perhaps a type of chakra that's different in itself] that flows over the normally unused portions of one's brain and that allows for hydrokinesis and the movement of water molecules as if they were extra limbs.

The portion of the Umikoi's brain which controls hydrokinesis is near their emotive center of their brain, and as such causes the eyes [almost universally a tint of blue or somewhat blue tinted] of the Umikoi Clansmen and Clanswomen who use the kekkei genkei to visually appear to be a maelstrom of blue tints while the bloodline is activated.

Their hydrokinesis extends beyond simply an ability to control water with their mind, and functions more as if the water was an extension of their own body and senses, providing them with an ability to feel and sense water psychically when the bloodline is activated, in addition to being able to use it as an extra limb. It is the portion of their hydrokinesis that provides them preternatural senses when it comes to bodies of water (even other people) that provides them with an instictive ability to knowing where to throw their body to block an attack when one is coming, and so they can defend against strikes from their opponents by knowing where their opponents are.

Their many tint shifting blue eyes are the primary marker of their bloodline's activation, but while not a universal fact; many Umikoi seem more monstrous while it activated, with their canines growing and sharpening [as the rank the user has in the clan's bloodline progresses], and a slight midnight blue discoloration appears somewhere upon the left side of their head, growing visible while the bloodline is active until while the Kaijin rank of Mizushin is active, a stylized spiral wave appears across the whole of the left side of their face; in a tint similar to the warpaint created from the plant 'Woad'.

The Mizushin bloodline has never been transferred by traditional means; and this means that the eyes of Umikoi clansmen are at times taken as spoils of war [for there is a superstitious thought that the Umikoi kekkei genkei is actually as eye based technique]. This comes all-too-often from the hands of Kirigakure no Sato's own people; for the manipulation of water and bodies of water as if they were an extension of one's self is something guessed at, and highly coveted.

Umi no Kouin 海の後胤 [scion of the Sea]
(Passive Skill)
Effects: The possessor of this skill is now immune to the status effect “Drowning” by any water or steam type ninjutsu or terrain effect. Any technique with a tier 2 combinational element or below that inflicts “Drowning” which uses water element as one of its component ninjutsu elements other than the previously mentioned ninjutsu elements will still cause HP damage as per 'Drowning' but have none of the other effects of drowning applied to this skills possessor. Additionally, while the terrains 'Deep Water or Deep Snow' are in effect upon the battlefield, the user's speed and evasion are considered to be 20 points higher than they normally would be.
Description: The absolute mark of all those who can be called biological members of the Umikoi clan, this aspect of the kekkei genkei begins within while in the womb. While gestating a secondary lung system develops. Not simply an additional pair of air breathing lungs, this system is one which filters oxygen from water and has a separate wind pipe which gains water through slight and typically scantly visible gill slit behind one's ear and which filters the post-deoxygenizated water into the user's bladder or sweat glands.
Restriction: Members of the Umikoi Clan must take this skill at character creation, though they may take it 'locked', and simply not have shown the clan's bloodline actively yet.
Cost: -1

Mizushin 水の意志 [Heart* of Water]

(Active Skill)

Activation/Upkeep:
- 5% Base Total Chakra/Turn.
Effects: While Mizushin is active; the user's skill and innate abilities towards water manipulation and water ninjutsu as a whole is greatly heightened.

The abilities which are given as to choose from are as follows, however because fighting styles being the way they are and the not-yet-firm control of the Kekkei Genkei at this stage; :

• A user must state if they are using Mizushin in Offensive mode or Defensive mode on the set-up phase which they activate Mizushin in, and can turn it from offensive to defensive modes by using a set up phase to refocus their attentions.
• While Mizushin is actively in 'offensive mode', consider the user's Ninjutsu [Or Genjutsu] to be 3X Higher, where X is the user's level. This addition is considered for water ninjutsu, steam ninjutsu, and storm ninjutsu; or water genjutsu, steam genjutsu, and storm genjutsu only. The bonus to Ninjutsu or Genjutsu is stated at the beginning of activation; to apply the other bonus, the user must spend a set up phase refocusing, and receives half the bonus they would receive from the 'mode' they were in before.
• While Mizushin is actively in 'defensive mode', consider the user's Defense to be 3X Higher, where X is the user's level.
• If near a large body of water, multiply the effects of 'Subtle Elements; Water' by two.
• Character may consider all Storm, Water and Steam Ninjutsu or Genjutsu to be sealless and may use them while a weapon is equipped. Additionally, all Ninjutsu or Genjutsu made up of elements added to the Mizushin Bloodline with the skill "Many Colours of the Sea" are also considered to be sealless and may be used while a weapon is equipped.

Restrictions: Advanced regeneration skills are considered inactive while this skill is active. All Umikoi clan members must take this skill upon character creation, though they may take it as 'locked', if they don't have the skill points to take it from the beginning, and simply unlock it through roleplay. This is an advanced system.
Cost: -4 SP

Junsui Mizushin 真の水の意志 [True Heart* of Water]

(Active Skill)

Activation/Upkeep:
- 5% Base Total Chakra/Turn.
Effect: While Mizushin is active; the user's skill and innate abilities towards water manipulation and water ninjutsu as a whole is greatly heightened.

The abilities which are given as to choose from are as follows, however because fighting styles being the way they are and the not-yet-firm control of the Kekkei Genkei at this stage; :

• The first Rank of Mizushin's effects are counted amongst the effects of Junsui Mizushin, the only real "Expansion of ability" is that at the rank of Junsui Mizushin, one can manipulate "Bodies of water" that are at the molecular level (No, not make H-bombs, but move molecules of water.) and at the other end manipulate larger bodies of water than they could before.
• A user must state if they are using Mizushin in Offensive mode or Defensive mode on the set-up phase which they activate Mizushin in, and can turn it from offensive to defensive modes by using a set up phase to refocus their attentions.
• While Mizushin is actively in 'offensive mode', consider the user's Ninjutsu [Or Genjutsu] to be 4X Higher, where X is the user's level. This addition is considered for water ninjutsu, steam ninjutsu, and storm ninjutsu; or water genjutsu, steam genjutsu, and storm genjutsu only. While in 'offensive mode', the user receives a 1X bonus to their defense. The bonus to Ninjutsu or Genjutsu is stated at the beginning of activation; to apply the other bonus, the user must spend a set up phase refocusing, and receives half the bonus they would receive from the 'mode' they were in before.
• While Mizushin is actively in 'defensive mode', consider the user's Defense to be 4X Higher, where X is the user's level. While in 'defensive mode', the user receives a 1X bonus to their Ninjutsu [Or Genjutsu] as described in offensive mode above.
• If near a large body of water, multiply the effects of 'Subtle Elements; Water' by two.
• Character may consider all Storm, Water and Steam Ninjutsu or Genjutsu to be sealless and may use them while a weapon is equipped. Additionally, all Ninjutsu or Genjutsu made up of elements added to the Mizushin Bloodline with the skill "Many Colours of the Sea" are also considered to be sealless and may be used while a weapon is equipped.

Restrictions: Advanced regeneration abilities are suspended while this bloodline skill is considered active. This is an advanced system skill.
Cost: -3 SP

水の意志の海神 Kaijin Mizushin [sea God's Water Heart*]

(Active Skill)

Activation/Upkeep:
- 5% Base Total Chakra/Turn.
Effect: The first and second Ranks of Mizushin's roleplay effects are counted amongst Kaijin Mizushin's effects, as well as the ability to manipulate much larger amounts of water than the previous ranks allowed. With Kaijin Mizushin, one can actually manipulate large portions of the Ocean itself -thus the term "Sea God, Water Heart"-, and can wield these large portions of water as if they were an extension of the user's self. The following abilities are granted while Kaijin Mizushin is activated;

• The first Rank of Mizushin's effects are counted amongst the effects of Junsui Mizushin, the only real "Expansion of ability" is that at the rank of Junsui Mizushin, one can manipulate "Bodies of water" that are at the molecular level (No, not make H-bombs, but move molecules of water.) and at the other end manipulate larger bodies of water than they could before.
• A user must state if they are using Mizushin in Offensive mode or Defensive mode on the set-up phase which they activate Mizushin in, and can turn it from offensive to defensive modes by using a set up phase to refocus their attentions.
• While Mizushin is actively in 'offensive mode', consider the user's Ninjutsu [Or Genjutsu] to be 5X Higher, where X is the user's level. This addition is considered for water ninjutsu, steam ninjutsu, and storm ninjutsu; or water genjutsu, steam genjutsu, and storm genjutsu only. While in 'offensive mode', the user receives a 3X bonus to their defense. The bonus to Ninjutsu or Genjutsu is stated at the beginning of activation; to apply the other bonus, the user must spend a set up phase refocusing, and receives half the bonus they would receive from the 'mode' they were in before.
• While Mizushin is actively in 'defensive mode', consider the user's Defense to be 5X Higher, where X is the user's level. While in 'defensive mode', the user receives a 3X bonus to their Ninjutsu [Or Genjutsu] as described in offensive mode above.
• If near a large body of water, multiply the effects of 'Subtle Elements; Water' by two.
• Character may consider all Storm, Water and Steam Ninjutsu or Genjutsu to be sealless and may use them while a weapon is equipped. Additionally, all Ninjutsu or Genjutsu made up of elements added to the Mizushin Bloodline with the skill "Many Colours of the Sea" are also considered to be sealless and may be used while a weapon is equipped.

Restrictions: Advanced regeneration abilities are suspended while this bloodline skill is considered active. This is an advanced system skill.
Cost: -4 SP


Ooku no Iro no Ume 多くの色の海 [Many Colors of the Sea]
(Passive/Add-on Skill)
Effects: For each rank of this skill the user takes, add one 'Combinatorial Element(s)' which requires the element water and is no higher than tier 3 to the types of elemental ninjutsu which gain benefits while Mizushin is activated.
Description: While the majority of the Umikoi clan with Mizushin can only manipulate water and liquid elements close to water, and it is less common for other elements to be used; it is not impossible. It is simply that the three elements which are most often to be used by an Umikoi with Mizushin activated are the most common elements. The sea has many colors, and an Umikoi with this skill is slowly unlocking the many colors of the sea.
Cost: -1 [Per Rank]


Umi no Aranami 海の荒波 [Crashing Wave of the Sea]
(Activate Skill)
Description: The mere fact that Mizushin lacks hand seals, and that it allows the user to attack with a speed, surprise, and ferocity is often over looked. But because of this fact, and because the immense amount of control Mizushin gives to a user, it can be extremely dangerous. Without even any application of a particular strategy; the attacks of the user do a sizable amount more of damage than they would normally do, with the attack's force multiplied. However, it is highly straining on the mind.
Effects:
- When Using Mizushin, the user's adeptness makes all water type, steam type, and storm type ninjutsu deal 1.5X Base Damage. Amend this list to include any combinatorial elements which gain the normal benefits of Mizushin from ranks of 'Many Colors of the Sea' being bought. Whenever the user chooses to apply this ability, deal 1/10th of the total unmodified damage [base+this bonus] to the user as ghost damage. Does not stack with other skills that modify base damage.
Restriction: Kaijin Mizushin, level 75. This is an advanced system skill.
Cost: -5
 

Hydrokinetic
(Passive/Add-on Skill)
Description: The Umikoi, simply put, are hydrokinetic by nature. Their ability to masterfully craft and control water on the molecular level is extraordinary, and provides for immaculate reaction against inferior productions. Whenever facing such an assault, their bodies accumulate the water molecules around them and disperse against the incoming attack, 'infecting' it so-to-speak, allowing for the Umikoi to momentarily reconfigure the molecular structure of the attack, lessening the overall destruction it would have otherwise caused.
Effect: Character treats all incoming water Ninjutsu as though they have 1.5x Defense and all water-based (combinatorial elements that require water, up to tier 3) Ninjutsu as though they have 1.25x Defense. Incoming Ninjutsu comprised of elements added to the Mizushin Bloodline by the Skill "Many Colours of the Sea" are treated as though the character had 1.4x defense. This effect is ignored by ninja of higher rank than the character. This skill overrides any armor effects that reduce elemental damage or similar abilities/skills.
Restrictions: Umikoi clan membership, Kaijin Mizushin activated.
Cost: -2 (might be closer to 3/4 though.)

Link to the Previously Approved version Mizushin.

Notes:
-Mizushin & Scion of the Sea MUST be taken by an Umikoi at creation, but is considered 'locked' until it is roleplayed being unlocked, and it is bought with SP.
-Scion of the Sea MUST be taken before Mizushin, and the ranks follow sequentially.
-The Last Skill is adapted from one created by Ravage Nocturne for their Umikoi character long ago, and I'm updating it because I had/have it on Warrusu, and figured if it belongs anywhere it belongs here with the rest of the bloodline.

*Shin = Heart, or Spirit, or Will. Not actually the physical heart of a person; but nevertheless, heart, spirit, or will. Edited February 24, 2016 by Warr

[Cellar Door]

Could you give us some notations of changes that you've made since the previous version? Trying to pick through it for little nuances is a hell of a chore. Making them more apparent would be a huge favor for the review team on this one.

[Warr]

The numbers generally remain the same.

Actual changes include clarification of what is an 'active/activated skill' and what is passive/always on, or relies on another skill to do anything. Further than that, moving the restriction about how it stops any advanced regeneration, from the upkeep section of the sheet, to a 'restrictions' section instead.

I removed the lines 'Ignore the large body of water portion of subtle elements' from the bloodline. I rolled a bloodline 'add-on' skill, Hydrokinetic, into this because it probably needs to be updated as well. Everything else is statistically the same as it was before, more or less, with lore and actual descriptions getting the most of the rewriting, as well as some editorial removal of certain words which just confused the sentences.

Edited February 20, 2016 by Warr

[Hardcore Skittlez]

For the most part, this remains mechanically okay. A single problem really jumps out at me though-- anything that mentions "or a combinatorial comprised of water..." is a bit excessive, as that ultimately means that benefits apply upwards all the way to Light/Dark. This is inconsistent, given that many of the positive bonuses also only apply to very specific named water combis.

 

Any instance referring to elements in the aforementioned way should instead just read something to the effect of "... Water element and Tier 1 Combinatorial Elements with Water as a component..." or something in your own words to that approximate effect.

 

Also, the final rank of Mizushin's upkeep is way overpriced. The raw statistical benefit you get is on the lower end of modern Advanced Systems, but its other effects kind of make up for that gap. The other effects definitely bring it up to snuff-- however, it ultimately isn't significantly stronger than its AS-Bloodline brethren, so the 10% cost is excessive. You could bring it down to 5% per turn and it'd still be fine, I think.

[Warr]

For the most part, this remains mechanically okay. A single problem really jumps out at me though-- anything that mentions "or a combinatorial comprised of water..." is a bit excessive, as that ultimately means that benefits apply upwards all the way to Light/Dark. This is inconsistent, given that many of the positive bonuses also only apply to very specific named water combis.

Yeah, and it's also not the intent. Light/Dark being modified by Mizushin in any way would be odd, to me.

 

Any instance referring to elements in the aforementioned way should instead just read something to the effect of "... Water element and Tier 1 Combinatorial Elements with Water as a component..." or something in your own words to that approximate effect.

I'll edit that, but would rather it go to tier 2, as I could still see something like Plasma/Acid being controlled/modified by it, potentially, but wouldn't want it to go any higher.

 

Also, the final rank of Mizushin's upkeep is way overpriced. The raw statistical benefit you get is on the lower end of modern Advanced Systems, but its other effects kind of make up for that gap. The other effects definitely bring it up to snuff-- however, it ultimately isn't significantly stronger than its AS-Bloodline brethren, so the 10% cost is excessive. You could bring it down to 5% per turn and it'd still be fine, I think.

Thanks for telling me. I stuck it with the previous mechanically balanced upkeep, of 10%, and wasn't aware other advanced systems had been pushed down to lower upkeeps in the meantime. I should have this edited/fixed shortly.

Edit: Now that I reread my own writing as I was editing the main post, I noticed I already had an 'up to tier 3' written in A storm of many colors, the skill which adds ability to use other combinatorial elements other than water/storm/steam, with Mizushin. Is that sufficient? Because I couldn't find any mention of upward combinational elements within the bloodline skills themselves and only the two 'add-on' skills did, but they only work within the grounds of what elements have been added to it by storm of many colors.

Edited February 22, 2016 by Warr

[Rhapsody]

While Mizushin is actively in 'offensive mode', consider the user's Ninjutsu [Or Genjutsu] to be 3X Higher, where X is the user's level. This addition is considered for water ninjutsu, steam ninjutsu, and storm ninjutsu; or water ninjutsu, steam ninjutsu, and storm only. The bonus to Ninjutsu or Genjutsu....

 

In every instance that you use this line, you state "ninjutsu or ninjutsu." Should it read as Nin or Gen?

 

 

Consider any and all water ninjutsu, and/any ninjutsu/genjutsu which results from a 'combinational element' element that is requires 'subtle elements; water' to be sealless. In addition, jutsu made 'sealless' as spoken above, can be used without unequipping any weapons currently in the user's hands.

 

This line from the bloodline proper should conform to the Tier limits of the elements you've described in Many Colours of the Sea.

 

 

Obviously you don't have to use this last little blurb, but I tried to clean up Hydrokinetic for your as your wording was... interesting.

 

Character treats all incoming water Ninjutsu as though they have 1.5x Defense and all water-based (combinatorial elements that require water, up to tier 3) Ninjutsu as though they have 1.25x Defense. Incoming Ninjutsu comprised of elements added to the Mizushin Bloodline by the Skill "Many Colours of the Sea" are treated as though the character had 1.4x defense.  This effect is ignored by ninja of higher rank than the character. This skill overrides any armor effects that reduce elemental damage or similar abilities/skills.

Edited February 22, 2016 by Rhapsody

[Warr]

Yeah, hydrokinetic's wording was... mostly kept intact from the way RN originally wrote it. In the case of the repeating nin, yeah, that should be 'ninjutsu or genjutsu'.

As to Hydrokinetic, do you have qualms with me copying that verbatim for the effects section?

[Rhapsody]

By all means. I wrote it for you!

[Warr]

Thanks, awesome.

And how does this look for the sealless bit?

Consider any and all water ninjutsu/water genjutsu, and any/all ninjutsu/genjutsu which results from a 'combinational element' element that is requires 'subtle elements; water' to be sealless. In addition, jutsu made 'sealless' as spoken above, can be used without unequipping any weapons currently in the user's hands. For any elements outside of base 'water, steam, or storm' elements listed above, this effect only applies if the user has the skill 'Many Colors of the Sea' for that particular combinatorial element, up to and including tier 3.

[Rhapsody]

Try this. Also, don't take this the wrong way but I do feel as though you may have a habit of... adding too many words? So your stuff ends up being quite wordy and a little confusing. If you read what you've currently got it's a little... weird, haha. Let me know if I've picked up what you've put down.

 

Character may consider all Storm, Water and Steam Ninjutsu or Genjutsu to be sealless and may use them while a weapon is equipped. Additionally, all Ninjutsu or Genjutsu made up of elements added to the Mizushin Bloodline with the skill "Many Colours of the Sea" are also considered to be sealless and may be used while a weapon is equipped.

 

In this case you are able to remove the "tier 3" wording because the skill applies to specific elements, and additional elements are restricted in the skill that adds them.

[Warr]

No, I don't take any offense to it. You got what I meant though, so I'll add that in.

[Hardcore Skittlez]

Crashing Wave should be amended to say that it does not stack with similar effects. Don't want to see someone stacking Shiva and other Base Damage boosters to potentially double a technique's base damage.

 

Other than that, this looks to be about good to go to me.

[Warr]

"Does not stack with other skills that modify base damage." is what I added in. Suffice?

[Hardcore Skittlez]

Looks good to me. I think I feel okay Approving this now.

[wolfnin]

App'd I'm also okay with this