Name: Wolf/Sekiro
Series: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Canon: “Well... done... Sekiro...”
Abilities:
Immortal Oath: The blood of the Divine Heir flowing through Wolf’s veins. The Dragon’s Heritage grants immortality to those it is bestowed upon, either directly or through another. While less potent than his lord’s inability to truly suffer wounds, Wolf retains the ability to revive himself innumerable times to fulfill his duty, whatever that may be. This is not without it’s costs however, as the life force used to resurrect Wolf is finite. Should he possess no resurrective power or usable life energy upon death, the toll will be taken on his mind and spirit, steadily wearing away at him.
Combat Arts: Wolf is a highly capable warrior, skilled in the arts of samurai, monk and shinobi. He has learned many techniques throughout his journey and uses them to devastating effect. There are simple movements such as the spinning Whirlwind Slash, the staggering Praying Strikes and the agile Nightjar Reversal. But these abilities range into the supernatural as well, with the likes of Dragon Flash cutting distant foes with the wind, One Mind unleashing a storm of attacks at god-like speed after a moment of focus, and Sakura Dance lifting it’s user into the air with extended swings that leave beautiful petals trailing after the blade. These are only a few of the many Combat Arts in his arsenal.
Shinobi Martial Arts: Though generally less direct than Combat Arts, often simple skill combinations, these techniques are no less useful. Many have met their ends unbalanced by the Mikiri Counter, a simple stomp on a weapon left vulnerable by a thrust, or the Anti-Air Deathblow, taking advantage of an airborne foe’s inability to dodge. This isn’t to say it is utterly lacking in eye catching moves, as Living Force’s ability to envelop one’s weapon in elemental energies would attest. Perhaps most useful is the Lightning Reversal technique, taking in electricity and sending it away in a wide swing or a projectile so long as one does not touch the ground.
Latent Skills: Innate abilities held by Wolf that are either always in effect or activate automatically where applicable. These can be incredibly potent, regardless of their scale. With Night Eye his eyes can adapt to see even in total darkness, Suppress Presence hides him well in stealth or plain sight, he can use the Mibu Breathing Technique to breathe underwater indefinitely and swim with speed more befitting a carp than a man, and Breath of Life replenishes his life force as he deals death to his enemies. Peculiarly enough, even his luck itself is bolstered by Virtuous Deed, mysteriously granting him additional currency and items wherever they may be found. Lastly, though one might attribute it to the Dragon Blood, he appears to benefit from any source of healing more than the average person.
Ninjutsu Techniques: Secret shinobi arts dealing in mystical powers. Bloodsmoke turns the spraying blood of a victim to smoke, allowing one to retake the element of surprise. Puppeteer manipulates the victim like a puppet, temporarily forcing one who should have fled this realm to remain for a time. Bestowal wreathes a blade in the victims blood, extending it’s reach and empowering it’s edge, forming a cursed sword. Each of these can be completely devastating on their own, yet their weakness lies in the requirement of a victim to utilize them with. For a shinobi there is often no lack of bodies to use, but when forced into a direct confrontation they will find such trickery less than effective. Wolf is also quite familiar with illusion techniques due to his father Owl and his mentor Lady Butterfly, though he rarely uses them.
Equipment:
Kusabimaru: A fine katana given by Kuro to his loyal retainer. It has served Wolf quite well against countless foes, remaining unbroken even in the face of demons and gods. It appears to hold no inherent supernatural abilities, but no tool is as reliable.
Shinobi Prosthetic: An artificial replica of a human arm fitted with a variety of mechanisms, apparently designed with modifications in mind. Wolf himself does not fully understand it, but is capable of making repairs, upgrades and modifications. A collection of weapons and tools are implanted, some with multiple forms that can all be swapped between despite easily exceeding the size of the arm itself when counted together. Most notable among them is the mobility enhancing Grapple Hook. The rest are as follows:
- Shuriken Wheel: A tool that aids in the launching of shuriken. They can be sent normally or spinning, but either is effective against distant or airborne foes. Additionally, Phantom Kunai generating powerful illusory butterflies and even Coins can be loaded into the wheel. If blessed with lazulite, the shuriken can continue spinning at top speed even after impact, leaving a trail of blue light reminiscent of a shooting star.
- Shinobi Axe of the Monkey: A powerful black iron axe meant to crush more than cut. While it’s weight alone is sufficient for its purpose, the spring-load mechanism which strengthens it and the attached percussion hammer to create flame make it a terrifying weapon to behold. The lazulite blessed blade causes a powerful reverberation capable of dispelling enemy illusions.
- Loaded Spear: Forged from the remains of Gyoubu’s Broken Horn, a spear with a splendid shape that excelled at stripping foes of their armour. Though simple in use, this mighty weapon can be swung and thrust with enough force to generate shockwaves. A percussion hammer has been added to this as well, making it capable of consuming enemies in a fiery blaze.
- Sabimaru: An ancient kodachi short sword, it’s blade mottled with bluish rust. The blue rust poison is highly potent and eats into enemies defences, working especially well on the inhuman Okami it was forged to fight. Having been upgraded with transcendent lazulite, it’s now unbreakable blade produces a poisonous mist with every swing.
- Iron Fortress: A nigh-indestructible iron-ribbed umbrella fitted to the arm. It’s tempered magnetic shaft and the blessings of Phoenix and Suzaku upon it make it the ultimate defence against blade, heat and spirit.
- Robert’s Firecrackers: Small explosives from across the sea. They can unleash a blinding flash to disorient people and greatly startle beasts. The tweaked compound black gunpowder emits purple smoke and delays the explosion slightly while magnifying it’s intensity. Something about it briefly causes those affected by it to take slightly more damage until they recover.
- Flame Vent: A flame barrel loaded onto the arm. It’s primary use is to create a short-range blast of fire, but it is also able to maintain a continuous stream of flames and can be charged for a massive blast of flames and hot air, sending opponents flying. With the blessing of lazulite imparted on the barrel, holy fire can be called forth to terrorize and destroy apparitions and other spiritual beings. These blue flames are still effective against living beings, but do not burn the same.
- Mist Raven: An aged feather from an elusive mist raven, fused with smaller crimson feathers. It can be used to disappear and displace like the mist before moving away in any direction and reappearing elsewhere, even past obstructions. Having been partially dyed red to resemble the Great Mist Raven, a god of the land, it can optionally leave a scorching trail in it’s wake.
- Divine Abduction: A large fan that commands the winds. By gathering and releasing a maelstrom of wind, it can easily and immediately turn even large and sturdy foes this way and that, often leaving them vulnerable to a quick deathblow. An illustrious golden vortex can also be used to extract additional items and money from others, to be considered “donations”. Certain individuals, such as heretics can be spirited away, vanishing without a trace or even a chance to resist despite their unholy might.
- Kingfisher: A slender finger fashioned into a whistle and reinforced with the Malcontent’s ring. It’s piercing sound can be heard freely or by specific targets and enrages beasts, making them unable to distinguish friend from foe. Taking a deep breath before performing a whistle allows for the sound to be delayed. Strangely, the sound also torments demons and apparition-type enemies, rendering them vulnerable in their stupor.
Mortal Blade: The Red Mortal Blade, named Gracious Gift of Tears. A crimson odachi capable of slaying the undying and immortal. Only those who themselves cannot die are capable of wielding this weapon, as it’s curse takes the life of any who dares draw it in an instant. The powerful blade leaves deadly wounds and it’s energies cannot be wholly blocked by physical means alone.
Kuro’s Charm: A secret gift from Kuro to Wolf. This small charm grants a measure of protection to it’s bearer, tempering the danger posed by that which assails them. Though it has long aided the Divine Heir’s loyal shinobi, he would be no less capable without it.
Dancing Dragon Mask: A dragon’s head dancing mask, restored by Wolf after he collected it’s three pieces. It was once used in rituals by the Okami warrior women as they performed for the Divine Dragon. This act somehow left them brimming with vigour afterwards. It retains a form of that power even now, as Wolf may use it while resting to empower himself with the memory of his fallen foes.
Recovery Charm: A Dragonrot Recovery Charm created by Emma. With this charm, one can offer a droplet of the Dragon’s Blood to restore all those afflicted with Dragonrot to health. It is good then that Wolf himself has been bestowed the Dragon Blood, as although it is less pure than the Divine Heir’s own, it could still be useful to one skilled in the art of medicine.
Healing Gourd: A gourd filled with vitality-restoring medicine capable of healing grievous wounds. The seeds within have the strange property of continuously refilling the gourd to it’s maximum capacity. Wolf is in possession of three other gourds of differing colours, each providing resistance and relief for a particular ailment. Green for poison, red for burning and purple for the deathly ailment of “terror”.
Ceremonial Tanto: The blade known as Devoted Soul, a dagger with a stark white blade and hilt. It can convert one’s vitality into spirit emblems, ethereal paper dolls representative of a departed soul’s life force. Many supernatural abilities are performed with such energies and though one who’s profession lies in taking lives is likely flush with them, it wouldn’t do to run out.
Headless Spiritfall: Fallen, headless spirits of old heroes, corrupted and ruined. Ako grants incredible strength, Ungo grants supreme vitality, Gokan grants unyielding defence, Gachiin grants unparalleled concealment and Yashariku grants inhuman might at the cost of one’s life force. Seizing their power is not without it’s costs, but the benefits are undoubtedly worth the sacrifice.
Nightjar Monocular: A bamboo tube used to see distant objects. While shinobi aready have good vision, looking through this tube with one eye enables one to see even further.
Hidden Tooth: False tooth loaded with a secret shinobi drug, blue in color. Can be used repeatedly. Crush the blue nostrum between the back teeth to die as often as one pleases. Could be useful in certain situations. Surely an unnecessary reminder, but the first death is typically one's last.
Bell Demon: A demonic spirit that has accompanied Wolf for some time. It was sealed within the Iron Bell of Senpou Temple and would possess those who rung it. Though it strengthens ones enemies and confers hardship, it also provides slightly better spoils for overcoming these challenges. Once, it could be banished and forced to return to the bell, but worlds away it may simply become subdued with nowhere to go.
Homeward Idol: A small, palm-sized wooden Buddha. Wolf has owned this since his childhood and it shows in it’s worn appearance. By praying to Buddha, one can be shown a path home. In other words, it returns Wolf to the last safe area he rested in.
Quick Items: Limited they may be, Wolf has many useful items on his person. A pill case full of medicinal Pellets, a droplet of Dragon’s Blood, a Bundled Jizo Statue that restores resurrective power, various powders to treat differing ailments, Mibu Balloons of Wealth, Possession, Spirit and Soul to attract such things, blessed Divine Confetti to interact with apparitions and spirits, empowering Red Lumps, Ceramic Shards to be thrown, hardened clumps of Ash, small Oil jars, illusion-breaking Snap Seeds, deadly shinobi drugs known as Bite Down and even purses bulging with coin. Truly it is a wonder how so much is held on one’s person, as even more is stored by the grace of Buddha elsewhere. Wolf may have deep pockets, but perhaps something else holds the answer to this riddle of space. Replenishing these outside of Ashina and even Japan is unlikely, so wisdom dictates they be used sparingly.