[Ryō no Eiji]

Ryō "Live!" CLAN TYPE: Hijutsu CLAN ORIGIN: Demon Country CLAN RESIDENCE: Scattered CLAN MON: The kanji for 'finished' centered, encircled in black CLAN IDEOLOGY The Will to Live. An undying ethos present in all who trace their lineage back to the Ryō. Whether it be simply to enjoy what life has to offer or the driving force behind their goals all who share blood with them feel the urge to continue living. The clan is notable for not being led by a specific purpose— or even led at all. Instead it is an extremely varied collective. Some Ryō have been champions of the downtrodden and underclasses in eras past. Others have been heralds of great tragedy. But all have carried this everlasting will forward to this very day. Passing it down through the generations to be held like an eternal flame. Even when it is inevitably snuffed out either by time or at the hands of the enemy there will always be another to pick it up and continue marching on. Defiance is another defining characteristic of the clan. Overwhelming odds are faced down with unnatural resolve. Life or death battles met with an excitement that can inspire hope in allies and dread in enemies. While this can make them tenacious foes it also means many of their number have a hard time taking orders. Preferring to lead rather than follow this can make them less-than-ideal subordinates but some of the most fierce and stalwart commanders around. Fate is a notion largely mocked by the Ryō. Aside from a few outliers they believe that each person's destiny is theirs to command even if that means struggling and wrestling it into submission with their own two hands. Because of this many clan members do not adhere to any religion and some even openly hate the concept in its entirety. No person's life is dictated by some metaphysical force. It is theirs and theirs alone to live. Life is precious to the Ryō but interpreting this creed differs among its members. All life, the lives of their friends and family, or exclusively their own... it is up to each of those marked by this Will to forge their own path. CLAN HIERARCHY Many names exist for the Ryō but none of them can be used to identify any kind of hierarchy. As far as anyone knows there is none to speak of whatsoever. Unlike traditional clans theirs is scattered all across the known world. Members have cropped up in many different countries throughout history with one myth stating that wherever one appears a great change is bound to follow. Bandit lords, mercenary leaders, scions of commerce, all stand on equal footing with one another. All simply members one in the same. At one point in their history there existed one of their number who reigned over all others completely. Simply referred to as One (一, Ichi) this leader had the final say on all matters regarding the clan. Since the passing of that leader there has never been another. Even the suggestion of one vying for that title has been the cause of several internal conflicts within the clan over the years. The Ryō are distinct in their presence but wholly unorganized. As they have always been since the founding of their clan. As they will always be. CLAN HISTORY Before 814 | Alone in a Land of Demons There once lived a man called Ōtakemaru (大嶽丸, Great Mountain Peak). A title as stalwart as its holder and one given to him by his enemies. His true name has since been lost to time but it is thought to have been deceptively short. A lone rogue bundled in the furs of great beasts he had slain who traveled from place to place carving out a living however he could. What was his he guarded feverishly. What wasn't was his for the taking. It wasn't long before the lords of soldiers he had crossed put a price on his head for his countless transgressions. Though try as they might none could claim it. Warriors flocked in droves to slay the vagabond but all were felled by his hand. Higher and higher the bounty rose but he continued to frustrate the levers of power who target him. Unconquerable. Indomitable. Every challenge was met with a mighty fury and a devilish grin on his face. Defiant above all else. Power finds a way to proliferate. Over the years Ōtakemaru took many wives and had many children, training them in the usage of chakra and his own unique ways of battle. Many of them grew to be strong but none so strong as he. Still they were a useful tool in his conquest. What started as one became many. And before long there was an entire band of brigands with that same diabolical smile. As their number grew so did their infamy. Wrath of man is one thing. But there exists in this world beings beyond mortal comprehension. Legend has it that somewhere along his path the fearsome Ōtakemaru crossed one or more of these creatures. Demons as it was written. It is said that he treated them no different than any enemy and dove headlong into battle like he always had. In what would surely be the most difficult trial of life he waged a prolonged and violent war with these beings. He and his growing family on one side and the gruesome malevolent entities on the other. To their surprise he was not easy prey and many of their number fell to his prowess in battle. Ōtakemaru and his kin seemed to grow stronger with each battle fought, eventually striking fear in the hearts of even these otherwordly beasts. Impossible as it seemed they were eventually branded Oni (鬼, Ogre) by their enemies. No mere demons but ogres in human form. 814 ~ 864 | The Ryō Rise Many years passed and the conflict raged on. There was no end to the vile creatures that inhabited Oni no Kuni and no extinguishing the lust for battle of Ōtakemaru and his ilk. The family grew powerful and large and their influence was felt not only in their home country but in the surrounding ones as well. Legends about heroes vanquishing ancient evils spread as did tales of foolish bandits that had gotten in over their heads. Regardless of the truth they amassed widespread notoriety and regularly received tribute from other tribes out of respect or fear. Ōtakemaru had no surname as he began as a common rover with no family to speak of but it was during these years that he and his progeny adopted the name Ryō (了, Finished). Even taking a 'no' between their two names like the nobles they robbed did before them. Whether this was a joke meant to taunt their enemies or a sincere move to legitimize themselves is unknown. But either way their presence in the world was solidified and soon more than just his own given name began to echo throughout the lands. During this time is when the Ryō developed and perfected their own hijutsu. Fighting these malicious creatures for so long began to have adverse effects on them all. Because of the constant clashing of their chakras the two began to intermingle resulting in the extraordinary. With each battle Ōtakemaru and his kin began to be overtaken by strange black markings, darkening their skin and turning them into living weapons. Believed to have caused by extended interaction with the demons this phenomena came to be known as the Mark of the Demon (鬼の烙印, Oni no Rakuin) or the Demon's Stigma. Whenever these appeared a Ryō's prowess in combat would grow along with their infamous wrath. They fought like men and women possessed. Not only did their physical capabilities increase but this exposure also permanently increased the quantity and strength of their chakra. It was a wicked thing... but what better weapon was there to fight demons with? Over the course of many battles and long arduous years they eventually learned to harness this power and summon it at will. It is unclear on what exactly caused the cessation of hostilities between the Ryō and their adversaries but it is known that Ōtakemaru continued to fight on even in his old age. In what would come to be known as The Calamity the two forces clashed against each other for seven days. At the end of this horrific battle Ōtakemaru ended up falling in combat to the fiends but not after taking hundreds of their number along with him. Historians claim he died on his feet, grinning. That same fiendish look in his eye that he had when he first arrived in Oni no Kuni. It is rumored that afterwards no demon dared come near him for fear of some kind of devious ruse. His body was recovered by his family and buried in an unknown location. Upon his death the war ended, although brief skirmishes between the two sides continued on for many years. By this point Ōtakemaru's descendants had grown massive in number but without his sole leadership there was much disagreement on what direction they should take next. Some wanted to return to their progenitor's thieving ways of old and grow rich by pilfering goods from wealthy lords. Others held an undying vendetta against all demons and wanted to work to exterminate the creatures outright. More still dreamt of carving out their own paths in life and traveling to distant lands. Lack of organization, any true goal, and stubborn refusals to back down from all involved parties caused the family to splinter. Everyone went their separate ways to decide their fates. 888 ~ 992 | Demons In Every Land With the founding of Hidden Villages the Shinobi World rose to prevalence. In the years the Ryō broke away from Oni no Kuni many of their number had grown powerful and influential but none so much as their founder. Outlaws, mercenaries, even a trader or two. But no matter the profession they always strove higher. To compete. Conquer. Win. It was the call to battle they were raised to hear and their own restless blood that drove the majority towards competition. Said to be shepherds of great change several Ryō were involved in wars, coups, and large scale conflicts throughout the years. Though their names too are mostly lost to history at this point. Only that trademark malevolent grin can be recalled to this day. As bold as it was unsettling. Those members that sold their services as tools of war found no shortage of work fighting alongside shinobi. Some villages sought their prowess in battle and it was not uncommon for warriors to switch sides to whomever offered the most ryō. Several even offered descendants of Ōtakemaru lands to put down roots and begin a true Shinobi Clan. But no matter the differences or opposing allegiances between the many Ryō these offers were always rejected. Some say it was because of their restless and combative nature. Others point to simple selfishness. Whatever the case they continued to move from place to place without any real home to call their own. If one fell along with their immediate family it was only a matter of time before another cropped up somewhere else. They were far too widespread to be extinguished. Their Will to Live too strong. 1014 ~ 1022 | A New Era Currently the Ryō hold the least amount of influence they ever have. All major figures from history have either passed on or faded into obscurity. No great changes have been heralded by one of their number and the Demon's Stigma has been all but forgotten. But there have been whispers about a few lone members in far off lands that still carry forward the techniques and practices of old. An old hermit who keeps company with a giant turtle somewhere rumored to be an expert in martial arts. A one-armed man considered a soldier of legend who collects followers wherever he travels. A loyal shinobi of Iwagakure said to be as sturdy as a mountain. And tales of several up-and-coming youths with that iconic nefarious grin of ages past. CLAN ABILITIES The Will to Live・(生きる意志, Ikiru Ishi) The strong desire to continue living even in the face of the most extreme hardship is a drive that even the most distantly related descendants of Ōtakemaru have. All members of the Ryō are born with an incredible lifeforce and nearly every one possesses vast amounts of chakra to go along with it. Normally this results in them having Enhanced Chakra Reserves though the occasional member may be more adept at using their unique chakra in a more efficient manner via Enhanced Chakra Control. While usually blue like most chakra it is not uncommon for their energy to take on a different hue in states of heightened emotion. Volatile and untamed in its nature, sensors will be able to detect a certain wickedness to any Ryō's chakra signature. Almost as if they're not quite human. Demon's Stigma・(鬼の烙印, Oni no Rakuin) Possibly the sole weapon that made the Ryō so effective in their battles with demonkind. Ōtakemaru was said to have stolen and mastered this affliction from a fiend in battle, later finding a way to pass it on to future generations in the form of their clan's hijutsu. The Demon's Stigma manifests as shadowy substance that appear on the limbs of a clan member after exposure to the chakra of another who possesses this power. Typically the color of said stigma takes its hue from the user's dominant chakra nature and will differ from person to person. Minor bodily changes may take place such as the elongating of their canines or the growth of hair that suddenly stands on end. At first a Ryō will be unable to control this stigma altogether with it only materializing when they are under great duress or in a state of heightened emotion. Eventually with enough training they can will it into existence to be used in battle whenever they please. When summoned these markings allow the user to sap the stamina of whomever they touch. Survivors of battle with the Ryō claim that coming into contact with this substance feels like being "struck by the weight of everything" and describe a caustic, depleting effect. A debilitating and fatiguing experience by all accounts. Acting in a fashion similar to poison this effect isn't much if exposed to for short periods and does no actual damage itself. But with time it compounds when physical contact is maintained or repeats. Advanced users can even weave said substance into long-range jutsu allowing attacks to carry this exhausting effect to a target regardless of distance. Combined with Taijutsu or Ninjutsu this make attacks devastating. Affected areas also gain a sort of protection with adept users able to stop piercing or slashing attacks by coating their limbs with the stigma and using their very skin as an aegis. While most commonly utilized to enhance hand-to-hand strikes members are also able to coat weapons with the stigma, though it always begins from a Ryō's actual body before spreading. Used both offensively and defensively the Demon's Stigma is both spear and shield to the Ryō. So much so that it was mythologized that the Ryō were all ogres wearing human skin or possessed by evil when fighting. It is said that the larger and more wild the stigma is, the stronger it is. Particularly powerful stigma may display a pattern towards their edge correlating to the bearer's dominant chakra nature (flames for Katon, waves for Suiton, etc.) however this is rare. This mark does not come without drawbacks. Without the required enhanced durability to withstand more powerful attacks a Ryō risks damage to their very body with prolonged defensive use of this ability. Similarly if utilized on a weapon of inferior quality it may break from the stresses of battle once the markings are withdrawn. For the sapping effect to activate the shadowy substance itself must make direct contact with an enemy, so defensive measures like armor or barriers will deter it. When the Demon's Stigma is called upon a Ryō's darker nature responds and this may influence their personality slightly. A carefree Ryō may become deathly serious and severe. A normally selfless Ryō may be overcome by avarice. It requires much experience and a great strength of will to channel their negative emotions and master this ability but it can be done. So far this stigma has only appeared on the limbs of a Ryō making coating their entire bodies near impossible. With sufficient mastery one could theoretically extend their stigma to other areas but this would take extensive training and testing. Smile of the Devil・(鬼の微笑み, Oni no Hohoemi) Less so a true ability and more a trait that most Ryō have. Throughout history members of the clan have been marked by a malicious grin said to be the same one that Ōtakemaru bore long ago. While not inherently extraordinary it is distinct, and though the clan is so widespread that few living members are actually closely blood-related to one another this is the one characteristic that ties all of them together. The Ryō are notable for being able to amass allies and influence quickly. Attracting others with great ambition and uniting them. Depending on the individual this is not always a positive thing. CLAN MEMBERS Member - Ryō no Rō (NPC) Member - Ryō no Hōku (NPC) Member - Ryō no Yama (NPC) Member - Ryō no Sora (NPC) Member - Ryō no Eiji x Member - Open Member - Open Member - Open Member - Open Member - Open Member - Open

[Toff E]

Hihi Muramasa!

I'll be starting off the review here, sorry for the wait.

General: Cutting to the chase, I do not believe the Hijutsu can be approved. Its similar to cursed seals, the Onigo, Futago, and a short list of other clans that do practically a different flavoring of the exact same power up meme. My suggestion would be to come up with something special about the seals, or remove them entirely. I had said this before, but what you want to do, is achievable with the Onigo. And this application seems to make that more obvious to me.

TLDR;; This will either need to be completely changed from a, pardon the wording I mean no offense, highly generic physical buff to something else or dropped as it can not be approved.

That is just talking the ability currently as history would need even more vetting for the issues that arise there, but as the hijutsu is the meat and potatoes end goal of making a clan I will be starting there with you. Thank you again for the wait. <3

[Ryō no Eiji]

Hey Wisp! I edited a few things around the Hijutsu, attempting to change it from a generalized power-up style buff like we talked about to more specifically Strength/Durability just for Taijutsu. Added in some more details about extending it to a user's weapon if desired and dialed back the 'losing control' schtick. Also threw in another drawback of the markings negatively impacting a user's speed when in use due to the weighted effect it would have.

Definitely willing to tool this around some more if needed, and can edit the history to reflect events I may have missed. Already tweaked a bit of it removing parts about them being instrumental in vague events and overall making them seem a little less all-present. But thank you for looking this over and working with me I appreciate it!

[Toff E]

I feel I maybe have lead you somewhat astray in my statement. The issue was not what it was buffing, but the general concept as it is.

When I initially gave you suggestions I stated that stopping and causing jutsu to dissipate was infringing on Hikari, but I also need to state that there is technically nothing special about this hijutsu past insert X flavor of why enhanced power. We already have A LOT of clans, possibly too many, that do what this clan seeks to accomplish.

Just starting there, unless you have something truly unique to add to this mix, its just not approvable.

If you want to mimick Oni more specifically I highly recommend looking into club weaponry and maybe attempting something there, I can suggest looking into the use of horns and move to something closer to ramming type taijutsu as a transformation type clan. But "Insert X reason” or "Insert X limitation” can’t push these through. If you would like my DMs are open to discuss possible ideas, but likely the clan would need much larger changes then what you are currently trying for.