The Five Clans of Feudal Japan (Working title)

In the feudal era of Japan, there are five clans who stand atop all other clans with their unrivaled martial arts, scholarly knowledge, and ability to manipulate the elements.

The five clans are known as the Kasai, Mizu, Kaze, Chikaku, and Kukai. Each of these clans have mastered ways to obtain special powers, though only a few in each clan have obtained these powers. These clans each perform certain duties, taking care of the land or aiding travelers and more.

• Kasai: Members of this clan are associated with fire. They are allied with the Chikaku clan, but are not in good relations with either the Kaze or the Mizu. The Kasai are the warriors, great fighters who go to war, and defend the land. Proof of their combat ability is in how their users obtain their power. One of their clan must seek out a Fire Youkai, slay it, and return with its liver to the village. They eat the liver as the final step in obtaining their abilities, and proof of it comes in the form of their eyes turning a brighter red. With these eyes, they can see in thermal vision at will, allowing them to see heat instead of light, and making them excellent night time hunters. Their fire element, or "Ka", can best be associated with security, motivation, desire, intention, and an outgoing spirit.
  
  
• Chikaku: Members of this clan are associated with earth. Their associations with the other clans are similar to that of the Kasai, being their allies. The Chikaku are workers, sturdy and strong. They make the roads all travel on, and defend nature. Proof of their raw strength can be seen in how their users go about obtaining power. One of their clan must venture, alone, into the mountains, and find a cave. Within the cave they must find and shatter an unnaturally strong rock. Within the rock is a gem, and touching that gem causes them to obtain a tattoo, proving their power. The tattoo glows when they need strength, and protects them on their journeys. Their earth element, or "chi", can also be referred to as "World", and is predominantly associated with stubbornness, collectiveness, stability, physicality, and gravity.
  
  
• Mizu: Members of this clan are associated with water. They have a stable reliance with the Kaze clan, but feud on occasion with the Chikaku and Kasai clans. The Mizu are scholars, and study martial arts mainly for educational purposes and for self defense. Proof of their wisdom can be found in their trial through which the users gain their abilities. They are given a riddle, the answer to which involves sailing out on the ocean, finding a desert island, and traveling through the barren lands until they come across a waterfall. Behind the waterfall is a blue orb that will grant them their abilities related to their element, in addition to giving them gills with which they can easily breath underwater. Their water element, or "Sui", can be associated with emotion, defensiveness, adaptability, flexibility, suppleness, and magnetism.
  
  
• Kaze: Members of this clan are associated with wind. They have similar relationships to the Mizu clan, since they are allies. The Kaze are nomads, traveling the land and never really staying tied down to one location. The Kaze are also knowledgeable and wise, however they are not scholars in the ordinary sense. They learn through experience, by being free, and ever expand their knowledge in this way. Proof of their belief in freedom, they have found ways to befriend wind youkai. By befriending such a wind Youkai bird, they can obtain a feather. With this feather, they grow wings and can fly, as well as obtaining abilities through associated with the element "Fu", or wind. Their element of "Fu" can be associated with will, elusiveness, evasiveness, benevolence, compassion, and wisdom.
  
  
• Kukai: Members of this clan are associated with "Ku", which can mean both void or heaven. They have very complicated relations with the rest of the clans, in that they are considered to be above the other clans. While they have authority to command the other clans, they can never show preference with any clan, as that will instantly make the others turn on them. As such, they do very little that might damage the situation. Their abilities are higher than the others, and they are considered to be the most 'enlightened' in terms of spiritual ability. Proof of this is in their trial, often debated to be the hardest of the five clans' trials. They must meditate for four days without rest, food, or water. They meditate without pause. Once one successfully does so, they reach an 'enlightened' state and their eyes become like that of the night sky. Their eyes can seal away memories so long as they have eye contact, and otherwise they each get their own interpretation of "ku". The element of Ku can also be associated with pure energy, supernatural, power, creativity, spontaneity, and inventiveness.

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There isn't too much plot to the RP, just some simple back-story to create drama. The plot will unfold as the story goes on, however.

The Kasai clan has all but been wiped out, leaving less than ten survivors. Nobody knows who caused this, and nobody even has any clues. It could be anyone, and there are fingers being pointed in every direction. Some elders in the Mizu clan have gone so far as to say they did it to themselves, which stirred quite a battle several days before our story begins. The remaining Kasai members have either gone into hiding to train, or gone to the Chikaku clan for shelter. This shift in power will surely stir many feelings, and possibly even some monsters... Well, we'll have to see.

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Character skeleton!

Name:

Appearance:

Age:

Gender:

Clan:

User?: (Remember this means they must have passed the trial. Simply put yes or no)

Abilities: (Includes abilities gained from being a user, and what style of martial art they use. As in, defensive or offensive, etc)

(Reference this wikipedia article for ideas that might help you come up with abilities within each element, since they're much more diverse than you might first think. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_elements_(Japanese_philosophy) )

Name: Kasai Shintarou

Appearance: "I will avenge my clan. I swear it,"

Age: 15

Gender: Male

Clan: Kasai

User?: Yes

Abilities: Makes use of a purely offensive martial art style, which focuses on breaking the opponent's body. As a user, his abilities with fire are very basic: He can call forth fire from his fists and feet, extending the reach of his fighting. He incorporates it well into his style, focusing on sending fire at his foes.

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Name: Kasai Hikari

Appearance: "Don't mind my brother, he just gets moody sometimes,"

Age: 13

Gender: Female

Clan: Kasai

User?: No

Abilities: While she was trained in an offensive manner, she makes much more use of the defensive abilities she was taught and has made somewhat of her own style. She isn't a fan of hurting others.

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Name: Mizu Saburou

Appearance: "You could say my outfit is a bit fishy, but I'd have to sea for myself what you mean,"

Age: 19

Gender: Male

Clan: Mizu

User?: No

Abilities: A sword fighter by preference, but can also use a variety of weapons. Not quite a ninja, but capable with thrown weapons. He'd be in trouble if he's caught without his weapons, but, he can defend himself from anyone who isn't an actual skilled fighter at least.

Name: Mizu Yoshi

Appearance: A tall, dark haired man with blue eyes. Constantly smiling.

Age: 18

Gender: male

Clan: Mizu.

User?: Yes.

Abilities: Can freeze any water (or liquid that contains water) that he's come into contact with. Can also channel this ability through weaponry; allowing him to, say, stab someone with his sword and instantly freeze their blood. However; he considers this a rather tedious way of kiilling someone. Thus, he's more likely to just stab them; or take them out with a well thrown shuriken. He's also skilled with sai.

Name: Kasai Haruka

Appearance: "Calm down and think clearly. You won't get anywhere by rushing into battle recklessly."

Age: 20

Gender: Female

Clan: Kasai

User?: Yes

Abilities: Haruka is an advanced user of the Kasai clan abilities. Through mental training, she has honed her fire abilities into something more electric. While she mainly defaults to fire to conserve her energy, she keeps several lightning based attacks as a trump card. Her main fighting style involves using a spear which she had specially made to work as a conduit for her electrical powers. Her ultimate ability is the Inazuma no Ryuu, in which she channels the full of her powers into her spear and thrusts it out to send out a lightning shaped dragon. This move is dangerously draining and she has yet to fully master it.

Name: Kukai Tatsuya

Appearance: I am the answer to all living things that cry out for peace

Age: 19

Gender: Male

Clan: Kukai

User?: yes

Abilities: Godric has many of his clans abilities that he learned from his father Kukai Goku. He has complete control over his Spiritual energy and can use it with his fighting style that shows a complete mastery over Spiritual energy control, and is a good base for the techniques of his clan.

Name: Chichi Chikaku

Appearance: So; what do you need shaken?

Age: 20

Gender: female

Clan: Chikaku

User?: Yes.

Abilities: Her ability is known as Earth-shaking. Can send vibrations through anything that qualifies as Earth. An ability that seems useless...till she uses it to create earthquakes.

Seems to be a dimwitted brute; but is actually a genius when it comes to using and controlling her power. Over years of practice, she's become good at focusing her power at one small piece of ground; rather than creating a large earthquake. Is also a samurai; and thus skilled with a katana.

Name: Kaze Kotowaza

Appearance:

Spoiler:

Age: 19

Gender: Male

Clan: Kaze

User?: Yes

Abilities: Koto has a style of sword fighting that revolves around fast, singular strikes, mainly from the sheath of the sword, often during counter-attacks which arise from opportunities he creates using his considerable skill at dodging and his incredible speed. He alters the position of his sheath a lot during battle to feint and attack from different angles.
His feather is woven into his scarf and he flies using the scarf rather than spouting a pair of wings. The downside to this is damage to his scarf makes it more difficult to fly. His wind powers are rather powerful due to having obtained them early in life and are rather basic, consisting of moving and feeling air on a large and small scale.
He is rather in tune with nature, due to his personality and the nature of his clan, and can understand animals on a basic level.
Very good at Feudal Japanese Trivial Pursuit.

Name: Chikaku Taiga

Appearance: "What are you looking at? Never seen a tiger before?"

Age: 17

Gender: Female

Clan: Chikaku

User?: No

Abilities: Taiga is completely deaf in one ear and at least partially deaf in the other. She lost her hearing due to an accident involving fireworks when she was 9 years old. Ever since then, she had been living under the watchful eyes of her parents and not allowed to take the trial in order to gain her powers. Even so, she is still considered one of the strongest non-users in the village. Her strength is rumored to break though rock with a single punch. Though, it doesn't quite go that far. Even her deafness is hardly a liability. Rather it is a strength, forcing her to hone all her other senses to keep from being attacked from behind or ambushed.

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Name: Kaze Akihiro

Appearance: "Ah, the wind calls to me."

Age: 16

Gender: Male

Clan: Kaze

User?: Yes

Abilities: Like any other user, Akihiro relies on the wind to help him in combat to make him lighter on his feet. However, he rarely uses his wings other than for fast travel. Rather, he prefers to use his acrobatic fighting style to dodge and avoid hits, tiring out his opponent before knocking them down with a huge gust of wind. (Which, if he wanted to, he could make more powerful by flapping his wings) He also claims that he can hear the voices of the wind. No one is sure if that's entirely true. Most people just chalk it up to his odd personality.

He's mostly pacifistic in nature, mostly from not understanding the concept of anger or fighting. As thus, whenever he does use his wind powers, it's either to make a defensive shield to protect others or to support friends in trouble by using the wind to make attacks more effective.

Name: Chikaku Yamato

Appearance:

Spoiler:

Age: 14

Gender: Male

Clan: Chikaku

User?: No

Abilities: A boxer who focuses on a strong offence and defence rather than footwork. Has a strong punch and is very resistant to death and pain. Specialises in haymakers.

Name: Kukai Yuuki

Appearance: "I won't lose in Archery!"
(The one on the LEFT with black eyes)
Age: 18

Gender: Female

Clan: Kukai

User?: No

Abilities: A skilled archer before anything else, always hitting perfect bulls-eyes, even on moving targets. However, she's never hit a human before. She is also skilled in a defensive martial art style taught by her clan.

Name: Mizu Ryuu

Appearance: "Don't ask about the eyes. Just accept it and move on."

Age: 20

Gender: Male

Clan: Mizu

User?: Yes

Abilities: Ryuu gained the ability to manipulate his blood into solid matter. He uses it to heal himself and make weapons out of it, though he has to be careful not to use too much blood or else he would pass out. He can also sense even the smallest amount of blood in the area and can identify and track someone by their blood alone.

Because of this ability, Ryuu's eyes turned blood red. He researched everything there is to know about blood and now has something of a blood fetish.

~

Name: Kaze Makoto

Appearance: "The breeze feels nice tonight, doesn't it?"

Age: 18

Gender: Male

Clan: Kaze

User?: Yes

Abilities: Makoto has the ability to send out waves of razor sharp wind that can cut like a blade would, using mostly his body. He can even cut through metal though it requires concentration and many, many strikes. Makoto is a hand-to-hand fighter and utilizes many martial arts styles into his fighting, though he favors traditional taijutsu.

He wears his feather in his hair and his wings can triple the damage of his wind attacks with large gusts.

Name: Kukai Koutei

Appearance:

Age: 16

Gender: Male

Clan: Kukai

User?: No

Abilities: Charismatic and rather clever.

Name: Chikaku Rin

Appearance:

Spoiler:

Age: 18

Gender: Female

Clan: Chikaku

User?: Yes

Abilities: She has always been interested in digging underground, ever since her father told her there were mole-people living down there. She's determined to find them, so she digs tunnels whenever she has spare time. Because of all of this digging, she is now able to create extensive tunnels that have many passageways in under an hour.
She is a defensive fighter. She uses her digging to hide underground and can create walls of earth and rock to defend herself. She prefers not to hurt anyone, but when she does, she likes to surprise attack her enemies from underground.
She has practiced a bit with a dagger, but she is far from an expert at it.

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Name: Mizu Hana

Appearance:

Age: 16

Gender: Female

Clan: Mizu

User?: Yes

Abilities: She is quite skilled with the bow and arrow. When she runs out of arrows, she quickly creates some more out of ice.
She believes that one day she'll be able to use plants in battles. She is still practicing, but she doesn't use it in public anymore. Everyone laughed at her when she threw some seeds at her enemy, poured water on him, and yelled "HAHA! IN TWO TO THREE YEARS, THAT PLANT WILL BE FULLY GROWN AND COMPLETELY TRAP YOU WHERE YOU ARE STANDING!" Her enemies had laughed at her, pushed her down, and walked away. She felt so ashamed. One day she'll be able to use plants, but maybe she needs a different approach. She's thought about simply controlling plants, but she enjoys growing them more.

Name: Yuurei

Appearance:

Spoiler:

Age: 18

Gender: Male

Clan: Kaze

User?: Yes

Abilities: Can turn into a gust of wind to travel - in this state he cannot be hurt, nor can he deal damage. Can also remove gases from localised areas, including removing the oxygen from the air surrounding someone.

Name: Kasai Sachiko

Appearance: "Don't underestimate me."

Age: 19

Gender: Female

Clan: Kasai

User?: Yes

Abilities: Sachiko has the ability to form long whips made of fire. They are extremely hot and one strike can both burn and cut an opponent. She can also breathe fire because why not?