Physical Description: A gentle-looking man that a hard life has carved into an older and wiser face than his years, Leon is a squarely built, round-shouldered and well formed man with several scars that run along his face and jaw. His silver eyes are constantly in a thoughtful state no matter what his facial expression on any side of the spectrum. He has dark-golden/dark brown hair that runs to his shoulder and a scar that runs from the base of the front of his neck down to a few inches away from his belly button. He has slightly longer fingers than normal and a physique to his body that belies his slightly delicate-looking facial features. He is proportioned as such that he displays physical prowess both when he is moving and when he is not. His wide, squared shoulders and chest taper to a firm midriff and long but surprisingly muscular set of legs that confirm a powerful bodily form. Every move displays a physical acumen and balance that cause almost everything he does to be unintentionally graceful. Clothing: Leon most often wears dark and shaded colors to reflect his constant work in the shadows, whether in his day to day dealings or under the thrall of worldly powers. He generally starts with a blacksmiths' shirt covered by a fastened overcoat, which is rimmed with the fur of an enormous wolf he defeated as a young adolescent. Buckles and fasteners keep this and his long john/pants piece together. He wears such layers due to his very physical life where clothing will pose a problem if there are pieces flitting about here and there; though his upper chest-and-back piece appear to be leather armor and gravediggers' back piece it is in fact merely a design quirk and purely layered clothing that provide a look more formidable than it really is. He often wears black, prehensile gloves made to grip objects as small as he could with his bare hands with the same ease, likewise rimmed with the same fur of the beast he defeated. His boots are shin-high, black and both leather, studded iron for grip and buckled together like the rest of his outfit. His chest piece comes with a raisable ninja mouthpiece that he can fasten to the back of his neck if subtlety is needed. To further conceal his features his outfit comes with a furred hoodpiece he finds himself wearing on far more occasions than he may himself like. Refer to the [Clothing Only] picture for accurate visual reference.
Accessories: N/A
Extra: A detachable hood upon his outfit that he may wear sometimes if he prefers not to be immediately recognized.
Picture (Clothing Only)
Personality: Leon is a very self-assured and charismatic individual that lives by his own code and tries to follow the righteous path, while going along such morals whenever possible. He has strong convictions that he carries out in his day to day life and feels a very personal responsibility in displaying such convictions wherever he goes as an example to those that may be around him. He is intensely loyal to those he loves, trusts or has befriended and has a deep dislike for those that betray, or lie without good reason. He abhors hypocrisy and is almost incapable of doing anything but what he says and believes in, never allowing himself to compromise his own morals and standards. Despite all this, he is a very gentle soul with a soft spot for the innocent and the unknowing or unlearned, often going out of his way to help people in such cases. He loves righteousness and hates evil in any of its forms but has over the years developed a tolerance for what he calls 'a sometimes necessary evil', whether it is authority or meting out a severe punishment to a wrongdoer. A man of all shades that will stop everything he is doing to save the life of an ant at all costs, Leon is likewise capable of inflicting unheard-of tortures on those he knows have committed unspeakable evil. He is a man willing and completely ready to face the wonderful and terrible unknowns; he is an unfaltering soul so strong in spirit that to be near him is to feel the same sense of duty towards life he both acts out and reinforces himself.
History
Born upon the ever-warring Speaker Island, Leon was at a very young age raised as a warrior and brought up with the expectations that he would excel within the Myrmidon classes. He was however a sickly child, very weak due to constant illness and unable to train himself to the limits as were his friends. He was a very stubborn, strong-willed boy even at such a young age and instead began to take up the books, schooling himself on the arts of war and the history of battles throughout the ages, becoming very familiar with human psychology and tactics used through time immemorial. As he grew older, his physical condition improved and slowly but surely he began to train himself and make up for the infirm of his past.
He was adolescent when the relentless forces of Annie Oakley the Conqueror arrived at the shores of Speaker, her enormous hordes at first repelled by the sentient Island -- and then, bit by bit through sheer numbers and force Speaker Island was slowly overrun by her soldiers. Already a highly militarized and warlike nation, however, Speaker had an enormous backing to its resistance and fell into an age in which war heroes began to emerge. Leon Columbus was one such successful individual, earning himself a place in the hall of the Islands' Commanders and Generals as he quickly proved himself to be an effective master of warfare. He found himself well suited to combat and the arts of shock and awe, often striking successfully against superior numbers of the invaders and disappearing before they could lash back. He developed tactics that, though they could not completely overwhelm the enormous number of enemies on the Island, constantly drove a knife into their morale. At the same time he defeated one of the giant wolves her forces liked to bring with them to frighten populations and, publicly doing so, earned himself the title 'Leonidas'.
In time, he also earned himself the more well-known title of 'The Commander' and became a trusted and respected general of Speakers' Myrmidon forces. Speaker Island was in fact one of the few Islands that maintained a constant state of warfare against The Conqueror's forces, so highly militarized and geared for war were the inhabitants. Sheer numbers were constantly humiliated by the home knowledge and surprising tactics of the nations' people, as well as the Islands' sentient resistance. However, such glory and resistance did not come without cost: throughout this war, Leon lost his entire family, one by one until only he himself remained to carry on the Columbus name. None of them were helpless: all had died with a weapon in their hands, even the children. But it was a burden upon his soul that he would carry with him forever, and a sadness that would taint his eyes the rest of his life.
When the forces of Grand Admiral Muggedon successfully counteracted and quickly defeated those of The Conqueror, Speaker Island found itself in a quandry, and many Generals such as Leon were forced to make the decision to capitulate itself under Marine rule -- or be branded as a rebel Island going against the World Authority. Leon was in fact one of the main players in fighting for the Islands' total independance, and suddenly found himself a rebel on his own Island, now overtaken by an even more efficient force than the massive numbers of The Conqueror's people. A rebel against The Conqueror and now a face of the Resistance against Grand Admiral Muggedon, this cause Leon to allow fury to sully his tactics and, ultimately, cost him several battles that would force him and his followers completely underground, on his own homeland. Speaker Island, too, eventually fell under the sway of the Grand Admiral -- to Leon's detriment.
When it became clear that there was no hope in taking his Island back at the present time, Leon decided that he was simply not strong enough to do so alone. Though even the leadership of Speaker -- its Prime, its Guardians -- had no love for Marine occupation, to capitulate to their invaders was the only way to keep the population alive. He could no longer receive their support publically. And so Leon decided that he would leave Speaker, learn skills and the ways of the world, and become even stronger than its Prime. He vowed to return to Speaker Island and to liberate it from its' new oppressors. And so he smuggled himself on a Marine ship to anywhere, anywhere it would land that he could start anew and train with impunity without being hunted as the rebel commander he had made himself out to be.
Luckily, he had kept himself masked during both invasions, never showing his face in public. In the outside world, bare-faced, he would be a new, unknown entity. A result of great care on his part, it would prove to be one of the factors that kept him alive.
The Marine ship was ripped apart by the ocean itself in a terrible storm. Where it ended up was beyond Leon's wildest expectation: the Blues. Drifting on a piece of the ship for days, he was eventually found and picked up by a travelling circus sailing from one Island to another and eventually recovered from his ordeal. Now a drifter on the Blues far, far from his homeland he stands ready to fulfill his promise and forge his way back to Speaker -- and liberate it from all invaders, once and for all.
Weaponry:
Weapon Name: Fenrir Weapon Class: Dangerous Weapon Description: A black-handled katana with a black-furred hilt and a blade slightly longer than a typical samurai's weapon. This katana is of a special design both bladed and reinforced by diamond in the handle for maximum unbreaking offensive ability. The handle is likewise slightly longer than a typical katana blade and the pommel is also lightly black-furred. This incredibly durable, glittering blade is slightly curved at the top and serrated on the blade edge on the few bottom inches. Perks: Labour and Material (10), Sharpness (5) Price: 37,500,000
Weapon Name: Sable Weapon Class: Strong Weapon Description: A white-handled katana with a white-furred hilt and a blade slightly longer than a typical samurai's weapon. This katana is of a special design both bladed and reinforced by folded steel alloy in the handle for highly break-resistant offensive ability. The handle is likewise slightly longer than a typical katana blade and the pommel is also lightly white-furred. This durable, gleaming blade is slightly curved at the top and serrated on the blade edge on the few bottom inches. Perks: Labour and Material (10), Sharpness (5) Price: 15,000,000
Fenrir -- 37,500,000 Sable -- 15,000,000 [Both weapons receive a 10% Discount due to the Weapon Mastery Trait]
Traits
Weapon Mastery: (Ittoryu, Nittoryu) (2 Trait)Use of this trait grants a character expertise with a single class of weapon/attack. Any techniques made involving the weapon chosen may be [4]*X ranks higher than the character's current maximum. Additionally, characters with this trait receive a discount of 10% off any weaponry purchase/upgrade.
Experienced Brawler (1 trait): For whatever reason, should it be necessity or simply because of your love of fighting, you've become a decent hand to hand fighter. Any unarmed technique you come up with that involve your fists or feet can be up to 2 ranks higher than your maximum.
Thief (1 Trait) - Those with this trait are excellent in lock-picking skills, can pickpocket with ease, and excellent in stealth capabilities. It isn't hard for them to find underground information on any island they visit. Thieves gain an extra 10% in beli rewards in all Storylines they complete.
Superb (2 Traits) - For every 3 points put into accuracy (up to a maximum of 75), the score increases by an additional 1.
Great (1 Trait) - For every 4 points put into speed (up to a maximum of 75), the score increases by an additional 1.
Fated (2 Traits) - When the character earns a trait point, they gain 1.5 trait points instead of the traditional 1. Fated acts as a banking system. These traits are usable whenever the taker sees fit. X does not have to be a whole number, and due to the nature of fated can be X or X.5 traits.
Devil Fruit Name: N/A Devil Fruit Type: N/A Devil Fruit Ability: N/A
Techniques: [34]
121/136
Woodland Nittoryu First Cut: Bear Paw -- Rank 38 Type: Offensive Range: Self - 74m Stats: The user will perform a dual Iai cut at an opponent to send an X-cut of compressed wind at them before precisely spinning both weapons in tandem in an intricate pattern that creates 8 cuts of wind in a spiders' web of angles -- high, mid-high, medium and low to send eight wind slashes spaced fractions of a second apart from one another at the enemy to slice at both sides of the neck, the arms/midsection, waist/groin and either the knees or feet. This technique is unuseable under any other conditions other than the utilization of two working blades. The end result is an opponent carrying a star-like set of cuts across their entire body.
Shameless Gypsy -- Rank 10 Type: Supplementary Range: Self Stats: Leon has the uncanny ability to distract or merely pickpocket his targets and will use sleight of hand, verbal/visual distraction and anything at-hand that is necessary to distract his target before relieving them of whatever items he desires from them.
Iai Line
Iai -- Rank 10 Type: Offensive/Defensive Range: Self - Weapon Range Stats: N/A The art of drawing ones' sword with the intention of ending a fight in the same motion. This technique involves the user utilizing their skill in not only drawing their weapon but then sweeping it across one of the many pressure points or vulnerable areas of an opponent [neck, armpits, groin] and incurring a debilitating cut immediately. This can be used as a defensive measure against an incoming blow whilst seen as a block, often mistaken as such to the detriment of an opponent.
Line Shot -- Rank 15 Type: Offensive Range: Self - 15m Stats: N/A The user will draw their sword along the ground and sweep up a measure of earth, dirt or groundwork at an opponents' eyes. Should the material at the users' disposal be solid such as the woodwork of a ship, the user will draw a wedge out of the existing frame and then either fling this at an opponent or utilize punches or kicks to do the same.
Sifer Cut - Rank 20 Type: Offensive Range: Self - 40m Stats: +10 strength Drawing upon both their speed in swordsmanship, skill in the bladed arts and knowledge of the human body the user will utilize their full power into the act of one cut and send a blade of compressed wind at an opponent. This dark red/black blade of compressed wind carries the full weight of the users' power and can only be utilized via an Iai cut -- from within the swords' scabbard, meaning that up to one wind blade per sword is useable per technique application. Utilizing enhanced strength in the cut can eventually fatigue the user but likewise enhances cutting power of the wind blade itself.
Sifer Barrage - Rank 25 Type: Offensive/Defensive Range: Self - 50m Stats: N/A The user will send a series of wind cuts at an opponent, none as potentially singularly powerful as the Sifer Cut but capable of being utilized in greater number. The user is capable of spinning to create a dome of bladed wind around them to counter incoming physical objects and attacks or do the same in a barrage before them. These blades of wind carry a red-black tinge to them and emit a peculiar, low whistling noise when emitted. When this technique is utilized in 360 fashion to defend the user the range is cut in half.
Iai: Howl - Rank 38 [Weapon Mastery] Type: Offensive Range: Self - 60m Stats: +28 strength The user will put all their physical acumen into drawing their blade and emitting a raw blade of force over a foot wide and carrying far greater power than their normal capabilities. This blade of wind will cut and then carry anything in its' path until it reaches the target, meaning that obstacles in the way are cut piecemeal, then carried along the attack to batter the opponent along with the release of the bladed attack carried out. This can include the earth between the user and their opponent, objects along the way, pieces of a ship. Even food will batter an opponent whilst they are being sliced in half by a blade over a foot wide. This technique creates a howling noise similar to that of a breathless wolf.
The Human Weapon
Cutter - Rank 25 Type: Offensive Range: Self - 50m Stats: Due to the users' limited power this is only utilized with kicks. The user will intensely focus and then send a sweeping cut of wind at an opponent using their kick as a fulcrum. However, due to the lack of a true blade and the necessary power to create a cut of wind the opponent will instead take a blunt, physical blow upon the wind cut striking them with very little cutting damage, if any.
Barrage of Lions - Rank 35 [Experienced Brawler Trait] Type: Offensive Range: Self Stats: The user will send a series of blows at their opponent and revert to handstands, cartwheels and flips whilst raining both hand, feet and cutting attacks at the enemy. While this attack follows no set pattern, its utilization is complex enough to merit its own technique and takes the users' full ability to keep themselves uninjured in the process of such advanced and unusual movement.
I took the bonuses off of what is now Woodland Nittoryu First Cut: Bear Paw.
Sifer Cut is the base form of the all-bodied speed and superior accuracy feeding into a singular cut of raw power that is Iai: Howl. Its meant to reflect breaking from the <50 range into the >50 strength range. I'd put stat-less because most often the cut would be done without the strength bonus since doing so fatigues the user, as per the tech description. Yea at this level boosting is tiring.