Name:Geimei (stage name):勝也 (Katsuya - meaning to be victorious)Real name:Age:Rin Ishikawa22Culture:PactmakerGender:FemaleAppearance:See aboveHobbies/Interests:Ancient traditional arts but especially those that have to do with the Hanamachi world - literally translates to "flower street" or a Geisha disctrict. Katsuya takes special interest in Ozashiki asobi and Odori.Personality:Katsuya on the outside is a cool, calm, reserved individual with powerful inner strength who possesses the innate ability to rise to the top through unflinching conviction and sheer perseverance. Katsuya is a rather stoic person who more than anything else enjoys power, respect, and authority, and who is willing to toe the line for as long as it takes to achieve her goals. Inwardly, however, Katsuya may not be the self-confident pillar of strength that she appears to be, and when her power or authority is compromised, she may make flawed decisions that could cause everything she has worked for to go down in flames in a spectacular way. Even so, Katsuya personality is one that is firmly grounded in reality and who will consistently be the voice of reason in a chaotic world. She understands why the rules are in place and conforms accordingly.Point Allotment:
Though she may seem unfriendly, arrogant, or without humor to outsiders, Katsuya is inwardly quite warm and sympathetic, often with a surprisingly quick wit. Her general outlook is fairly rigid, and once she forms a view of the world, she will often stubbornly hold on to that view despite compelling evidence to the contrary. Katsuya may also be subject to a degree of pessimism, often seeing the glass as half empty rather than half full. Socially, Katsuya is inhibited and uncomfortable in new situations, approaching others at first with caution and suspicion. Finally as far as money is concerned, Katsuya approaches finances as she does everything else - with prudence, planning, and discipline.Pactmaking {20 points}蛍狩り (Hotari Gari - catching fireflies) {10 points}: Fireflies have long been associated with the dead in Japanese mythology and so when Katsuya performs the dance Hotari Gari she is able to transcend worlds. Both Katsuya and who ever witnesses the dance are able to leave the materialistic world and enter the 黄泉の国 (Yomi no Kuni - World of Darkness). Once inside Yomi no Kuni, Katsuya's customers have three available choices: make a pact with a soul, allow yourself to be possessed or remain in Yomi no Kuni.Pact: there are varying degrees in which the agreement can result in, but in order for Katsuya to create her strongest deal with the soul she must have something that equals to that of the pact's power - a symbol of the contractee's will power.Possess: while you are possessed your soul will share its body with the possessor. There are multiple hidden dangers to this including being permanently entrapped in Yomi no Kuni, but the return rate can be high.Remain: your body will essentially become a soulless vessel although not lifeless. Contractee's cannot return to the world of the living unless someone offers Katsuya a release pact of a higher caliber than the one of the contractee's. This third option is perfect for those who know someone who has unfinished business in the world of the living.姫三社 (Himesanja - Three Princesses) {6 Points}: by performing this dance Katsuya can summon three seals. Functioning as rather a storage vessel for various things both materialistic and spiritual. Himesanja is mainly used for Katsuya's personal use, but it is possible to make a contract in order to gain access to the storage vessel.狐拳 (Kitsune Ken - Fox Fist) {4 Points}: a variation of "rock, paper, scissors". It is a game played by the Geisha and her customer while a third person referees. The roles of fox, village headman, and hunter, are symbolized by the hands forming ears (fox), hands on thighs (headman), and hands holding a gun (hunter). The village headman looses to the fox, which bewitches him; the fox looses to the hunter, who shoots him; and the hunter looses to the village headman, who outranks him. But unlike the traditional "rock, paper, scissors" the game's rhythm is determined by how fast the Shamisen (traditional Japanese musical instrument) is played. Opponents who step within the boundaries of Katsuya's power must play by the game's rules and thus are unable to attack unless they win the game and vice versa. Each turn that is won equals one chance to attack.Spirit Servant {10 Points}勝瑠 (Katsuru - meaning victorious lapis lazuli): rather than being an actual servant Katsuru is Katsuya's "Little Sister" as per Geisha custom - in another words apprentice. As a Maiko (apprentice Geisha), Katsuru mainly follows and observes Katsuya as she performs, bonds contracts and etc. Her full powers have yet to fully bloom, but as of now her main ways of manifesting her powers (and assisting Katsuya) is through playing the traditional musical instruments such as the Shaminsen and bells or through a Uchiwa (fans).Tessen {12 Power points}: a folding fan with outer spokes made of heavy plates of iron which is designed to look like a normal, harmless folding fan.Gunbai uchiwa {8 Power points}: is a large open fan made of solid iron capable of deflecting and rebounding even magical attacks.勝郎 (Katsuro - meaning victorious son): is Katsuya and Katsuru's Otokoshi - kimono dresser. Katsuro is responsible not only for helping dress both of them but also for safe keeping all of Katsuya and Katsuru's belongings.Artifact {10 Points}Biography:Hikizuri (a formal kimono worn when performing a dance) worn during Katsuya's first odori performance as a full-fledged Geisha. Being an enchanted Kimono it absorbs any incoming attacks {20 Power points}, but what makes it unique is that it can store the attack for later use.Rin is one the direct descendants of the Minamoto, one of the ancient four Great Noble Houses of the Heian Era. In ancient times the Minamoto clan was once part of the Imperial Family of Japan, but because of monetary issues were demoted back into not the ranks of royalty but of the nobility. Something that till to this day the Minamoto clan and its descendants have not forgotten. And thus eventually the Minamoto would become known as a not only the sacred armorers to the Imperial family but also a samurai clan. As a descendant of the Minamoto clan, Rin was expected to excel in any military aspect solely for the fact that they, the Minamoto clan, must protect the Imperial family at any cost, at least officially on paper that was the case. In a male dominated clan, Rin was often ousted with the excuse being that she was too soft, unfit for battle and above all that she was a woman. The harder she tried to earn herself a spot in the clan the harder she was cast outside and seen as bothersome. In a final effort to exile Rin, the clan sent her off as a tutor to a foreign land.
Rin felt betrayed and bitter about her clan's actions, but her only option was to accept it silently. Upon arrival, Rin was greeted by a large family of the Bushido culture and a gloomy gray sky that showered its landscapes with endless snowflakes that gently fell from the sky like angels that had descended from heaven. Sighing Rin extended her palm forward and a snowflake softly landed before melting. Is this all there is? Is this all that I've amount to? Having had enough Rin deserted her position as a member of the Minamoto clan.
After days of wandering around Rin ended up in a very ethereal world - the world of the Flower and Willow. Being young and inexperienced, Rin didn't understand anything about the place she had arrived in much less the complexity of Flower and Willow's alternate reality. But one thing was certain this world, which made a stark contrast with the other places Rin had previously seen, was truly paradise on earth. Grand and heavenly buildings built in the traditional Japanese architectural style flanked the alleys which in turn were filled with women whose presence was like that of a celestial being while men who accompanied them were clearly members of high ranks. But the majestic buildings and people were not the only unearthly even the atmosphere seemed different. By some sort of enchantment this place, which Rin would later learn to be Gion, was filled with towering trees, fragrant and impeccable gardens and even the rivers that sowed through the city was pristine. Qualities that in the current war torn planet was extremely rare.
In a transfixion Rin continued to meander through Gion unaware of the glances she was attracting due to her unsightly appearance. Before much longer Rin ended up in front of an Ochaya, a tea house, attracted by the ambrosial scent of the finest foods being masterfully crafted into meals. Then all of the sudden the Ochaya's sliding door opened and behind the noren appeared a Geiko (Geiko is the Kyoto dialect term for Geisha) entrancingly dressed in a black tomesode whose motif seemed to be of flowers and flying Herons tied together by a golden obi (sash), her hair elegantly styled in the Shimada style, and finally her face was milky white with crimson red accents. In a passing glance the Geiko looked at Rin before disappearing with her guest and all Rin could do was to watch the Geiko in sheer admiration.
Hours passed and Rin slept among the bushes before being lightly tapped and awakened. Reacting on reflexes Rin grabbed the small dagger she had been carrying and pressed against the person's throat drawing a small amount of blood. To much of Rin's surprise the Maiko (an apprentice Geisha) didn't flinch and even had a smug on her face. She quietly motioned Rin to follow her and within a few minutes they had arrived in a building which was modest but extremely elegant at the same time. As Rin entered she saw a giant wooden sign written 祇園甲部 (Gion Kobu). It'd be here that Rin would eventually be known as Katsuya a well respected Geiko known for her skills both as a performing artist and a pactmaker.
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