Post by lvsphinx on Aug 23, 2024 18:44:44 GMT
General Information
Full Name:
Ryutan
Codename or Alias:
Master Ryutan
Dragon Lake
Anonymity
Public
Gender:
Male
Race:
Mutant
Age:
35
Place Of Birth:
Dengfeng, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
Occupation/Status:
Chan Buddhist Master, Wanderer
Alignment:
Neutral
Factions:
None
Canon Or Original?:
OC
Powers/Abilities:
Hydrokinesis: Ryutan is an Omega-Level Mutant with molecular control over water in all of its forms. Ryutan can immediately stop the flow of a river like a dam, reverse that river's flow, suspend a waterfall, raise a lake out of its lakebed, create massive whirlpools and waterspouts, and affect the weather. He can telekinetically lift ice as large as icebergs, and draw clouds out of the sky, or even stop the sky from raining. Ryutan's control also extends to water inside living beings, being able to dehydrate someone, paralyze their body, or rupture their organs.
Hydration: Ryutan's physical abilities are enhanced the more he is in contact with water, giving him super strength and super speed when submerged. While under water, he is faster than a submarine torpedo, and can lift icebergs out of the ocean. In the pouring rain, Ryutan can dodge bullets and can punch through car doors with ease.
Master Martial Artist: Decades of practice and experience have made Ryutan a master in Shaolin Kung Fu, utilizing the most obscure techniques and powerful strikes within deceptively graceful movements. Travelling to spar to other schools and monasteries have honed his skills and kept them sharp, familiarizing him with martial styles from all over the world. In addition to being a master practitioner, Ryutan is also a gifted teacher in the temple.
Bilingual: Ryutan can speak and read both Mandarin Chinese and English.
Weapons/Items:
Shaolin Staff: Upon ascending to the status of master, Ryutan was granted an old but durable quarterstaff wielded by generations of masters. It is said to be over 1000 years old, yet something about this seemingly mystical staff keeps it from being broken or destroyed by the elements.
Appearance
Image:
Physical Appearance:
Ryutan is a lean Chinese man standing at 5'10', with a toned body from years of strict conditioning. He has a shaved head, almond brown eyes, round eyes, and a defined jawline.
Clothing and Armor:
Ryutan wears a set of comfortable orange or grey monk's robes, with prayer beads around his neck. He wears little else, and sees no need to own any other clothing, having sworn off material possessions as the master of a monastery. His robes are comfortable yet durable enough to withstand the elements, and he wears comfortable shoes.
Personality
Sexual Orientation:
Asexual
General Personality:
Being a Zen master, Ryutan is composed and tranquil, while while maintaining a focus, and an awareness of the present moment during his day to day life. Ryutan is a mindful individual, almost always deep in thought even when seemingly preoccupied with something else, having mastered a kind of walking meditation. Aside from sutra study, martial arts, and meditation, Ryutan's day at a temple would also consist of writing poetry, gardening, preparing tea, and teaching younger monks. Ryutan is compassionate, generous, gentle, patient, and kind, but he would not call himself good, rejecting the simple dichotomy between good and evil. Ryutan prefers a balanced, neutral path, capable of seeing merits in the profane, and flaws in the holy. He is deeply suspicious of government, both in the East and the West, due to governments' increasing interests and participation in metahuman affairs. Ryutan is wary of being someone's weapon, and empathizes with other mutants who have been forcibly registered or weaponized. Though he has a name, Ryutan is not attached to the concept of self as a devout Buddhist, and does not believe in a soul, already mentally ready to pass on from this existence with ease. Because of this, he displays a sort of fearlessness towards potential death and imprisonment.
Face/Voice:
Shi Heng Yi
Character's History
History:
Ryutan was orphaned as a toddler by an epidemic that ravaged China, one that was particularly deadly in low-income areas of the country. Because of his proximity to the renowned Shaolin Temple, he, like other children, was taken in by the monastery, choosing the name "Ryutan" from Chan Buddhist texts when he was old enough to read, which roughly translated to "Dragon Lake". Instead of being taken in the by the state, Ryutan would spend his childhood as a novice monk-in-training, naturally excelling in all parts of monastic life, from martial arts, to sutra study, to meditation. It was also during childhood that Ryutan discovered his powers of hydrokinesis, though he would not learn the term "mutant" until he was an adult.
The seniors monks, after much thought, decided it best that Ryutan hide his powers until adulthood, not wanting the religious order to become any more of a target of the government than it already could be. Ryutan obeyed his masters, faithfully carrying out his duties and studying until his 18th birthday, when the seniors monks then decided it would be for the best if Ryutan experience the greater outside world of metahumans, unable to guide him in his understanding of his powers. Mistrusting of the Chinese government, the monks arranged to have Ryutan sent overseas, to the United States, which has a thriving "superhero culture".
Wanting to be a source of knowledge of his religion, and show to the authorities that he was of little threat, Ryutan based himself at a Zen Buddhist temple in Washington D.C., and even registered himself as a metahuman with the U.S. government. It was through registration that Ryutan learned that he was a mutant, and first heard of organizations such as the Mutant Liberation Front and X-Men. After being checked for connections with either group, Ryutan was warned that he would be under minor surveillance but otherwise welcome in the States. Ryutan spent 7 years in the U.S., closely following metahuman and superhero politics and events, finding Western heroes more stirring and inspiring than the government-backed Great Ten in China. Constant consumption of Western media and ideas, and news coverage of his homeland, greatly influenced Ryutan, causing his mistrust towards the CCP to deepen, though Ryutan still remained wary of the West and their many organizations vying for dominance.
When he was 25, a government purge removed and detained most of the masters of the Shaolin Monastery, causing Ryutan to leave the States and return home. Moved by the difficulties his home temple had suffered, Ryutan vowed to stay and be an immovable object for the temple, a master that could not be removed. At the age of 30, Ryutan was named as one of the new masters of the monastery, after repelling another government crackdown on their temple. The heavy use of his powers, and the viral nature of a video of the incident at the temple, caused Ryutan to gain the CCP's attention.
The government eventually sent the August General in Iron to arrest Ryutan, who engaged in a brief fight with the "super-functionary" (the communist Chinese ethos rejects the word 'heroes' for a humbler one). After subduing the renowned General, Ryutan fled, knowing that staying at the temple would only keep bringing government heroes after him.
Ryutan spent the following five years wandering the world, mostly on foot, evading the Great Ten whenever visiting back in China, knowing that as a defiant religious leader and a non-government metahuman, he stands opposed to the CCP and the Great Ten. A reputation of a wandering metahuman monk travels behind him, of a gentle-hearted and quiet vigilante who would quickly disappear after being found out.
Role Play Sample:
In the pouring rain, in the middle of a moonless night, a man sat in quiet contemplation. He was alone, legs crossed in lotus position, on top of a large stone in the center of a temple garden, completely still except for his lungs and his fingers. Exhale for 8 seconds. 8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1… He pulled one prayer bead over his fingers with the most miniscule movement of his thumb. Inhale for 8 seconds. His abdomen slowly expanded as he drew in a deep breath.
“Master?”
A disciple’s call broke the relative silence. Until now, there had been no sound other than the drumming of raindrops. Unable to see, the young disciple struck a match and lit a lantern.
In one split second, with movement like lightning, the man leapt from the stone and landed in front of the disciple. Wordlessly, the disciple handed the man an envelope sealed with wax. Inside was a letter that read:
“Are you going, Master?”
The man wordlessly leaned over, and blew the lantern out.
Upon seeing this action, the disciple remembered Case 28 of the Wúménguān, a collection of Zen koans: “Ryutan lit a lantern and handed it to Tokusan. Just as Tokusan reached for it, Ryutan blew it out. At that Tokusan came to sudden realization and made a deep bow.” The master’s answer seemed like a riddle, and felt like the koan itself to the disciple. It was very much like the master to answer a question with another question, but the disciple could not understand what he meant.
Full Name:
Ryutan
Codename or Alias:
Master Ryutan
Dragon Lake
Anonymity
Public
Gender:
Male
Race:
Mutant
Age:
35
Place Of Birth:
Dengfeng, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
Occupation/Status:
Chan Buddhist Master, Wanderer
Alignment:
Neutral
Factions:
None
Canon Or Original?:
OC
Powers/Abilities:
Hydrokinesis: Ryutan is an Omega-Level Mutant with molecular control over water in all of its forms. Ryutan can immediately stop the flow of a river like a dam, reverse that river's flow, suspend a waterfall, raise a lake out of its lakebed, create massive whirlpools and waterspouts, and affect the weather. He can telekinetically lift ice as large as icebergs, and draw clouds out of the sky, or even stop the sky from raining. Ryutan's control also extends to water inside living beings, being able to dehydrate someone, paralyze their body, or rupture their organs.
Hydration: Ryutan's physical abilities are enhanced the more he is in contact with water, giving him super strength and super speed when submerged. While under water, he is faster than a submarine torpedo, and can lift icebergs out of the ocean. In the pouring rain, Ryutan can dodge bullets and can punch through car doors with ease.
Master Martial Artist: Decades of practice and experience have made Ryutan a master in Shaolin Kung Fu, utilizing the most obscure techniques and powerful strikes within deceptively graceful movements. Travelling to spar to other schools and monasteries have honed his skills and kept them sharp, familiarizing him with martial styles from all over the world. In addition to being a master practitioner, Ryutan is also a gifted teacher in the temple.
Bilingual: Ryutan can speak and read both Mandarin Chinese and English.
Weapons/Items:
Shaolin Staff: Upon ascending to the status of master, Ryutan was granted an old but durable quarterstaff wielded by generations of masters. It is said to be over 1000 years old, yet something about this seemingly mystical staff keeps it from being broken or destroyed by the elements.
Appearance
Image:
Physical Appearance:
Ryutan is a lean Chinese man standing at 5'10', with a toned body from years of strict conditioning. He has a shaved head, almond brown eyes, round eyes, and a defined jawline.
Clothing and Armor:
Ryutan wears a set of comfortable orange or grey monk's robes, with prayer beads around his neck. He wears little else, and sees no need to own any other clothing, having sworn off material possessions as the master of a monastery. His robes are comfortable yet durable enough to withstand the elements, and he wears comfortable shoes.
Personality
Sexual Orientation:
Asexual
General Personality:
Being a Zen master, Ryutan is composed and tranquil, while while maintaining a focus, and an awareness of the present moment during his day to day life. Ryutan is a mindful individual, almost always deep in thought even when seemingly preoccupied with something else, having mastered a kind of walking meditation. Aside from sutra study, martial arts, and meditation, Ryutan's day at a temple would also consist of writing poetry, gardening, preparing tea, and teaching younger monks. Ryutan is compassionate, generous, gentle, patient, and kind, but he would not call himself good, rejecting the simple dichotomy between good and evil. Ryutan prefers a balanced, neutral path, capable of seeing merits in the profane, and flaws in the holy. He is deeply suspicious of government, both in the East and the West, due to governments' increasing interests and participation in metahuman affairs. Ryutan is wary of being someone's weapon, and empathizes with other mutants who have been forcibly registered or weaponized. Though he has a name, Ryutan is not attached to the concept of self as a devout Buddhist, and does not believe in a soul, already mentally ready to pass on from this existence with ease. Because of this, he displays a sort of fearlessness towards potential death and imprisonment.
Face/Voice:
Shi Heng Yi
Character's History
History:
Ryutan was orphaned as a toddler by an epidemic that ravaged China, one that was particularly deadly in low-income areas of the country. Because of his proximity to the renowned Shaolin Temple, he, like other children, was taken in by the monastery, choosing the name "Ryutan" from Chan Buddhist texts when he was old enough to read, which roughly translated to "Dragon Lake". Instead of being taken in the by the state, Ryutan would spend his childhood as a novice monk-in-training, naturally excelling in all parts of monastic life, from martial arts, to sutra study, to meditation. It was also during childhood that Ryutan discovered his powers of hydrokinesis, though he would not learn the term "mutant" until he was an adult.
The seniors monks, after much thought, decided it best that Ryutan hide his powers until adulthood, not wanting the religious order to become any more of a target of the government than it already could be. Ryutan obeyed his masters, faithfully carrying out his duties and studying until his 18th birthday, when the seniors monks then decided it would be for the best if Ryutan experience the greater outside world of metahumans, unable to guide him in his understanding of his powers. Mistrusting of the Chinese government, the monks arranged to have Ryutan sent overseas, to the United States, which has a thriving "superhero culture".
Wanting to be a source of knowledge of his religion, and show to the authorities that he was of little threat, Ryutan based himself at a Zen Buddhist temple in Washington D.C., and even registered himself as a metahuman with the U.S. government. It was through registration that Ryutan learned that he was a mutant, and first heard of organizations such as the Mutant Liberation Front and X-Men. After being checked for connections with either group, Ryutan was warned that he would be under minor surveillance but otherwise welcome in the States. Ryutan spent 7 years in the U.S., closely following metahuman and superhero politics and events, finding Western heroes more stirring and inspiring than the government-backed Great Ten in China. Constant consumption of Western media and ideas, and news coverage of his homeland, greatly influenced Ryutan, causing his mistrust towards the CCP to deepen, though Ryutan still remained wary of the West and their many organizations vying for dominance.
When he was 25, a government purge removed and detained most of the masters of the Shaolin Monastery, causing Ryutan to leave the States and return home. Moved by the difficulties his home temple had suffered, Ryutan vowed to stay and be an immovable object for the temple, a master that could not be removed. At the age of 30, Ryutan was named as one of the new masters of the monastery, after repelling another government crackdown on their temple. The heavy use of his powers, and the viral nature of a video of the incident at the temple, caused Ryutan to gain the CCP's attention.
The government eventually sent the August General in Iron to arrest Ryutan, who engaged in a brief fight with the "super-functionary" (the communist Chinese ethos rejects the word 'heroes' for a humbler one). After subduing the renowned General, Ryutan fled, knowing that staying at the temple would only keep bringing government heroes after him.
Ryutan spent the following five years wandering the world, mostly on foot, evading the Great Ten whenever visiting back in China, knowing that as a defiant religious leader and a non-government metahuman, he stands opposed to the CCP and the Great Ten. A reputation of a wandering metahuman monk travels behind him, of a gentle-hearted and quiet vigilante who would quickly disappear after being found out.
Role Play Sample:
In the pouring rain, in the middle of a moonless night, a man sat in quiet contemplation. He was alone, legs crossed in lotus position, on top of a large stone in the center of a temple garden, completely still except for his lungs and his fingers. Exhale for 8 seconds. 8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1… He pulled one prayer bead over his fingers with the most miniscule movement of his thumb. Inhale for 8 seconds. His abdomen slowly expanded as he drew in a deep breath.
“Master?”
A disciple’s call broke the relative silence. Until now, there had been no sound other than the drumming of raindrops. Unable to see, the young disciple struck a match and lit a lantern.
In one split second, with movement like lightning, the man leapt from the stone and landed in front of the disciple. Wordlessly, the disciple handed the man an envelope sealed with wax. Inside was a letter that read:
Whoever Possesses One of These Letters Can Be Given Entry to the
Limit Break Tournament
On Tenryu Island, the Tenth of May, 2025
- Katsu Yamada
- Katsu Yamada
“Are you going, Master?”
The man wordlessly leaned over, and blew the lantern out.
Upon seeing this action, the disciple remembered Case 28 of the Wúménguān, a collection of Zen koans: “Ryutan lit a lantern and handed it to Tokusan. Just as Tokusan reached for it, Ryutan blew it out. At that Tokusan came to sudden realization and made a deep bow.” The master’s answer seemed like a riddle, and felt like the koan itself to the disciple. It was very much like the master to answer a question with another question, but the disciple could not understand what he meant.
