Wings of Endymion
05-15-10, 08:30 PM
Revamp time! Many of Yuka's abilities have been rewritten or reworded somewhat to be more in line with her upbringing. Skipping levels 2 and 3, this is a cumulative update from level 1 (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=19746) onwards, and is a result of the climactic events of the Featured Quest in Raiaera; many of the upgrades below were learnt implicitly or gained as rewards in Ye Olde Shoppe.
Again, with no further ado...
Name: Yuka Kanamai
Pseudonym: Elerrina
Age: 24
Race: Human
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Black-Brown
Height: 162cm (5'4")
Weight: 50kg (110lb)
Details
Occupation: Hojutsushi, Injutsushi, Sakigake
Personality: Yuka's personality can be summed up in one word - bright. Never without a smile, her ability to keep on doing so even under extreme pressure is perhaps her most endearing quality. A sympathetic listener and enthusiastic speaker, her friendly manner and charm mask a keen intellect and innocent honesty. An openly playful streak helps her to be loved by young children everywhere. Diligent and hard-working, kind and always willing to lend a helping hand, at times it seems as if she tries almost too hard to be liked.
If caught in a conflict, she often hesitates to give her opinion, fearing hurting or alienating someone. On the other hand she has a slightly loose tongue, known to unwittingly let slip caustic comments at times, and also bears a tendency to hide her true feelings and emotions behind a dam in her mind. Behind her lively facade, though, she conceals secrets and pain far deeper than anybody could suspect; it is testament to the sheer strength of her will and the support of those around her that she can maintain such a positive outlook on life.
Appearance: Dark shoulder-length locks, held back by a simple blue band, frame her lustrous pale skin; her eyes like lively obsidian jewels sparkle beneath her firmly-sculpted brow. Yuka is pretty in a plain fashion, unlined forehead a tad too wide sloping into a snub nose, delicate cheekbones forming in a subtly rounded chin. She is not a beauty in appearance alone, but somewhere in the sculpt of her face lies an exquisite sense of attractiveness and peace. Her build is slender and athletic, not at all glamorous - a fact that she sometimes feels extremely self-conscious about.
Yuka favours simple clothing - usually white robes or tunic and blue leggings, with a simple denim jerkin to keep herself warm if necessary, worn under a large hooded cloak of the sort favoured by travellers for its versatility. At first glance, she is little different from the multitude of other travellers journeying the land, staff in hand and haversack slung over her shoulders. The only things that may set her apart at a closer look are her distinctly Oriental features and the similarly outlandish shortsword worn in the ornate saya at her waist, beneath the folds of her cloak.
Yuka's voice is a light, lilting soprano easily infused with emotion.
Belongings
Weapons:
What looks on first glance like a simple walking stick that Yuka carries at all times is in fact an intricate amalgamation of bow and staff. Since her arrows are formed of her magic, it needs no drawing string to function as the former; at the same time, the delicately balanced wood helps to focus and channel her powers when consciously used as the latter. Made of high-quality Nippon yew, supple but slightly fragile, it is not an ideal melee weapon but serves in a pinch.
Her secondary weapon is a short kodachi worn in an ornate silk-lined wooden saya at her waist; with a finely-crafted steel blade of approximately sixty centimetres (twenty-five inches) length, it is a good lightweight defensive sword, although Yuka has no skill with it beyond the ceremonial.
Armour and Clothing:
Two simple white cotton tunics and two pairs of blue denim leggings, her standard favoured attire.
A set of white knee-length mage robes, distinctly Oriental in style, along with a cloth belt to hold them in at her waist. The fabric of the gown and belt is silk velvet.
A heavier denim jerkin that provides moderate protection against piercing and slashing blows.
A heavy hooded cloak of dyed navy blue wool, held in place by a simple clasp at the neck.
A pair of light leather boots that have walked the roads from Nippon to Raiaera and remain as sturdy as ever.
Accessories:
A small brown leather haversack designed to be slung over the shoulder that usually carries a spare change of clothes, a towel or two, and some other womanly essentials.
A silver locket that Yuka wears on a light chain around her neck. The locket itself is in the shape of a pair of outstretched wings enveloping a sceptre, while a small soothing blue stone is set in the middle. It is one of only two like it in the entire world; the other is currently owned by Ingwe Helyanwe. The locket and its counterpart are linked by the faint essence of a magical connection that allows one owner to sense the general mood of the other, and to communicate via emotion if the other is open to it - this most notably manifests itself in an occasional ability to share dreams, but has been proved to allow one owner to send raw innate power to the other. This is an item of some small sentimental value to Yuka.
Skills
Hojutsushi: Yuka showed a natural aptitude for magic from an early age, able to manipulate winds and mana leylines in ways that her contemporaries simply could not match. Her main specialism was in the Nipponese arcane form known as Hojutsu, with its focus on cosmology, natural science, and elementalism. Her power swelled as she matured from girl to woman, and it was testament to her levelheaded willpower that she never once lost control over it. However, at the same time, she has never been able to tap into its full potential, even by the modest standards of most Nipponese magi. At the moment, her skill with the arcane is above average compared to a standard Althanasian wizard.
Yuka's Hojutsu powers are fairly primal in nature, sacrificing the conjurative aspect of most Althanasian magical arts in favour of pure manipulation of mana. Hence, although many of her spells are quick to cast and easy to control and master, they can lack in power unless the appropriate spells are cast at particular locations. For example, spells manipulating water are far more powerful with a river in sight than they are in the middle of a desert; similarly, those of a light alignment are extremely weak on a moonless night. Finally, it is extremely difficult to create a truly destructive spell in Hojutsu - one of the very reasons why Nipponese magi are not as renowned as their counterparts elsewhere on Althanas.
Aeroblast (Renku): Fundamental wind manipulation - hurls a sustained and focused gust of air at a target. The spell lacks the power enough to damage armoured opponents, although it will toss about lighter foes with ease.
Aquablast (Suisho): Fundamental water manipulation - hurls a sustained and focused torrent of water at a target. Can apply more blunt trauma than its wind-elemental counterpart, and is more effective against heavier foes.
Obscuring Mists (Shimoshigure): A basic concealment spell, invoking heavy mists to envelop the vicinity and shroud the wielder.
Synapse Shock (Ranshinsho): Channels a powerful static shock through a target's nervous system via touch. The effect upon the target is individual, but ranges from no effect at all to an inability to properly control voice and limbs, and in some extreme cases temporary paralysis.
Healing Touch (Shosenjutsu): Attempts to heal a wound by revitalising the cells in the affected area, stimulating the body's natural healing process. Not useful at all under combat situations due to the time and concentration required to heal even the most basic of cuts, and won't affect anything deeper than a sword slice or more complicated than a simple fracture. Is very useful, however, at stemming heavy bleeding.
Injutsushi: Injutsu, or sigil magic, is a semi-unique art which Yuka employs in order to aid her Hojutsu techniques. By tracing certain Nipponese characters upon her palm, she is able to call upon various powers without drawing upon vast quantities of mana. Although the spells that form the basis of the sigils are amongst the most powerful available to practitioners of Hojutsu, they require long periods of preparation along with auspicious heavenly portents in order to be successfully cast; the sigils below can be considered portable variants of such epic magic - although far more limited in their scope and effect, they are also far less demanding in the heat of battle.
Yuka also has knowledge of the greater variants of each of these spells as well, but since they are largely ceremonial and impractical to the extent of being almost unusable (especially in situations involving any form of combat), they are omitted from the list of her skills. Her skill with Injutsu is directly related to her skill with Hojutsu, and thus is above average.
Sigil of Shielding (Shu no in): By tracing a sigil (守), forms an impenetrable arcane barrier that can ward off attacks for a short period of time (10 seconds to a minute, depending upon the nature of the damage inflicted upon the shield).
Sigil of Sight (Gan no in): By tracing a sigil (眼), grants extrasensory perception such that Yuka gains night vision and can instinctively sense any being within sight (unless they are concealed by a magic more powerful than her own).
Sigil of Binding (Baku no in): By tracing a sigil (縛), binds a foe in range with invisible arcane restraints. At the moment, the spell only works on those almost within reach of her hand, only if they are less powerful than Yuka, and only for extremely short (five seconds at most) periods of time.
Sigil of Sleep (Min no in): By tracing a sigil (眠), casts an area-effect spell that sends all not resistant to its effects (whether by forewarning or innate resistance) to sleep. At current levels, the spell is extremely prone to being resisted, especially by other spellcasters.
Sigil of Speed (Soku no in): By tracing a sigil (速), enhances her own reflexes and speed such that she can move far faster than (twice as fast as) normal.
Sakigake: Although not as specialised as her arcane knowledge, Yuka is also trained in the arts of the sakigake or pathfinder; it is in this domain that the vast majority of her martial skills lie. Her natural athleticism and stamina, as well as her tutelage under some of the most accomplished masters in Nippon, mean that she can more than hold her own against professional pathfinders. She has exceptional physical agility and endurance, as well as roughly average ability with the bow. Her skills in close-combat with both staff and sword, however, are poor, and she much prefers to play to her strengths and stay out of melee. She also only has rudimentary skills in tracking and scouting, covering her lack of knowledge in the area with her magic instead.
Arcane Arrow (Soshuha): Weaves an arcane arrow from the winds of magic, which can then be launched from the staff-bow. Arrows thus created are naturally more accurate (do not suffer from wind resistance, etc.) but disappear upon impact and cause less overall damage than comparable normal arrows.
Arcane Barrage (Soshugeki): Weaves multiple arcane arrows and launches them at once in multiple arcing paths towards their targets.
Wings of the Seraphim: Many Nipponese mages are associated with a guardian spirit to match their personality and their talents. Not all are so lucky, and some will spend their entire lives fruitlessly searching for such an entity. Yuka has very recently - and largely through her friend Thomas's research on the matter - discovered her association with a winged astral spirit known as a Tensei (literally, celestial saint), resembling an angel with six wings. At the moment this ability is in stasis; it does not have any noticeable effect whatsoever.
Character History
Yuka Kanamai's childhood - or at least, what little she allows herself to remember of it - was far from a happy one. Officially, Yuka was born into a relatively affluent middle-class merchant family in the eastern islands of Nippon. Unofficially, however, the respectable facade of her family was but a front that disguised their position as head of a powerful underworld organisation, and she was trained from a young age in the nuances of their trades, including but not limited tobribery, coercion, and assassination. The signs were plentiful that from a very young age, Yuka Kanamai was destined for greatness; the elves who watched over her called her Elerrina, "Crowned with Stars", for she was by far the brightest of the children that were born that year.
As she grew, she did little to prove her nickname wrong; despite her upbringing, she remained at heart both gentle and kind, in addition to intelligent and athletic. Her parents and tutors, sensing a valuable opportunity in her talents martial and magical as well as a growing sense of frustration at being unable to break the young girl despite their persistent efforts, broke off her induction at a crucial stage and instead decided to mould her into a legitimate front for their organisation. It was little surprise when she progressed into the foremost academic institution in the land, the Toho Institute of Higher Learning, along with a close group of friends - amongst them 'Ingwe Helyanwe', Thomas Motokaji, and Yoshi Sanada - whose presence kept her sane and allowed her to keep the ghosts of her past at bay. She kept her personal history a quiet secret, however, relying heavily upon their company to maintain her fragile sense of self.
Her skills grew noticeably day by day, and there were very few within the student body who could match her prodigal talent. Through it all, however, she never let her abilities get to her head, and there were very few within the student body who could match the effort she poured into her studies either. Yet over time, the seeds of dissent were sown, and a silent rivalry developed between two of the few who could match her in both talent and effort - Thomas and Ingwe - that would eventually tear them all apart in one fateful night.
The reasons why she followed Thomas to Haidia, or whether she even did so of her own free will, remain shrouded in mystery. All that was known to those that she left behind was that she was alive and well, and that her powers grew boundlessly, nurtured by the skyless fires and fathomless tomes of the underworld. Her progress was so significant that it caught the eye of a mysterious organisation known only as the "Cabal", who proceeded to spirit her away to an alternate dimension in which the Tournament of Champions was held. It was there that she first met Lask Ventrist and Cael Strandssen, whom she would later count amongst her best friends, and where she first pit her skills against real-life opponents... and found them lacking. Despite her inexperience, she managed to somehow work her way to the quarterfinals of the tournament, where she and Lask were defeated by a pair of daemonic entities completely beyond their powers to combat.
When she awoke once more, Yuka found herself in Scara Brae, where an encounter with the street performer Duffy Bracken was the first indication that she had been entered - by forces unknown - in the fabled Magus Cup. On top of that, the Cabal had stripped her of the majority of her powers, leaving her with only the bare minimum of her former prowess. Determined to return to Haidia and discover a way to regain them, she set off once more on her journey, encountering many other opponents upon her path. Only after reuniting with Cael and facing off against the fabled Teric Barton was she finally able to return to someplace that she could call home.
Sometime after all this, Yuka was caught up in the events of the Raiaeran conflict, striking a deal to accompany her daemonic patron Natosatael in attaining power in the corporeal plane; her ulterior motive was to escape from Thomas's influence in Haidia, which was starting to get slightly overbearing. Summoned along with Natosatael to the side of the Death Lord Maeril Thyrrian, almost immediately she engaged Ingwe and the Legion of Light in battle, culminating in defeat at the Battle of Nenaebreth. She accompanied them both northwards towards the city of Trenyce, but growing tensions within the undead camp as well as the unwanted attentions of Maeril's chief necromancer finally convinced her to abandon her undead allies in favour of freedom. A desperate escape attempt ensued, in which she evaded pursuit and ended up in the Raiaeran city of Winyaurient just in time to save it from destruction by Maeril's secret gambit.
The Two Tournaments Arc
Team Registration - The Wanderers (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=17950) - Quest, in which a young woman is spirited away to places unknown for reasons unfathomed.
Bridge (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=18184) - Quest, in which said young woman makes the acquaintance of a future friend.
Sasurai vs. Destined Intervention (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=18129) - Battle, in which said young woman loses out in a battle of words.
Sasurai vs. The Ixidar Legacy (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=18608) - Battle, in which said young woman faces down the thunder.
Sasurai vs. The Whole Glory (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=19023) - Battle, in which said young woman is completely overpowered by a titan or two.
Yuka Kanamai vs. Duffy Bracken (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=19589) - Battle, in which said young woman races across the rooftops.
Yuka Kanamai vs. Patrick McCullough (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=19760) - Battle, in which said young woman is nearly charmed by an old pro.
Yuka Kanamai and Jason Sumnner vs. The Old Guard (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=19874) - Battle, in which said young woman is ambushed by a pair of veterans.
Yuka Kanamai vs. Cael Strandssen (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=20008) - Battle, in which said young woman reunites with a good friend.
Yuka Kanamai vs. Teric Barton (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=20088) - Battle, in which said young woman somehow survives an encounter with the best.
Legion of Light (FQ - Raiaera) Arc
Miracle on a Silent Night (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=18028) - Quest, in which a young woman steps out into the light only to be taken hostage.
In the Shadow of Ancient Champions (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=18463) - Quest, in which said hostage faces off against an old friend.
Prelude to Ruination (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=19882) - Solo, in which said hostage hears of a diabolical plan.
Symphonia Destructio (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=20039) - Solo, in which said hostage flees from her fate, only to find herself forging her destiny anew.
Again, with no further ado...
Name: Yuka Kanamai
Pseudonym: Elerrina
Age: 24
Race: Human
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Black-Brown
Height: 162cm (5'4")
Weight: 50kg (110lb)
Details
Occupation: Hojutsushi, Injutsushi, Sakigake
Personality: Yuka's personality can be summed up in one word - bright. Never without a smile, her ability to keep on doing so even under extreme pressure is perhaps her most endearing quality. A sympathetic listener and enthusiastic speaker, her friendly manner and charm mask a keen intellect and innocent honesty. An openly playful streak helps her to be loved by young children everywhere. Diligent and hard-working, kind and always willing to lend a helping hand, at times it seems as if she tries almost too hard to be liked.
If caught in a conflict, she often hesitates to give her opinion, fearing hurting or alienating someone. On the other hand she has a slightly loose tongue, known to unwittingly let slip caustic comments at times, and also bears a tendency to hide her true feelings and emotions behind a dam in her mind. Behind her lively facade, though, she conceals secrets and pain far deeper than anybody could suspect; it is testament to the sheer strength of her will and the support of those around her that she can maintain such a positive outlook on life.
Appearance: Dark shoulder-length locks, held back by a simple blue band, frame her lustrous pale skin; her eyes like lively obsidian jewels sparkle beneath her firmly-sculpted brow. Yuka is pretty in a plain fashion, unlined forehead a tad too wide sloping into a snub nose, delicate cheekbones forming in a subtly rounded chin. She is not a beauty in appearance alone, but somewhere in the sculpt of her face lies an exquisite sense of attractiveness and peace. Her build is slender and athletic, not at all glamorous - a fact that she sometimes feels extremely self-conscious about.
Yuka favours simple clothing - usually white robes or tunic and blue leggings, with a simple denim jerkin to keep herself warm if necessary, worn under a large hooded cloak of the sort favoured by travellers for its versatility. At first glance, she is little different from the multitude of other travellers journeying the land, staff in hand and haversack slung over her shoulders. The only things that may set her apart at a closer look are her distinctly Oriental features and the similarly outlandish shortsword worn in the ornate saya at her waist, beneath the folds of her cloak.
Yuka's voice is a light, lilting soprano easily infused with emotion.
Belongings
Weapons:
What looks on first glance like a simple walking stick that Yuka carries at all times is in fact an intricate amalgamation of bow and staff. Since her arrows are formed of her magic, it needs no drawing string to function as the former; at the same time, the delicately balanced wood helps to focus and channel her powers when consciously used as the latter. Made of high-quality Nippon yew, supple but slightly fragile, it is not an ideal melee weapon but serves in a pinch.
Her secondary weapon is a short kodachi worn in an ornate silk-lined wooden saya at her waist; with a finely-crafted steel blade of approximately sixty centimetres (twenty-five inches) length, it is a good lightweight defensive sword, although Yuka has no skill with it beyond the ceremonial.
Armour and Clothing:
Two simple white cotton tunics and two pairs of blue denim leggings, her standard favoured attire.
A set of white knee-length mage robes, distinctly Oriental in style, along with a cloth belt to hold them in at her waist. The fabric of the gown and belt is silk velvet.
A heavier denim jerkin that provides moderate protection against piercing and slashing blows.
A heavy hooded cloak of dyed navy blue wool, held in place by a simple clasp at the neck.
A pair of light leather boots that have walked the roads from Nippon to Raiaera and remain as sturdy as ever.
Accessories:
A small brown leather haversack designed to be slung over the shoulder that usually carries a spare change of clothes, a towel or two, and some other womanly essentials.
A silver locket that Yuka wears on a light chain around her neck. The locket itself is in the shape of a pair of outstretched wings enveloping a sceptre, while a small soothing blue stone is set in the middle. It is one of only two like it in the entire world; the other is currently owned by Ingwe Helyanwe. The locket and its counterpart are linked by the faint essence of a magical connection that allows one owner to sense the general mood of the other, and to communicate via emotion if the other is open to it - this most notably manifests itself in an occasional ability to share dreams, but has been proved to allow one owner to send raw innate power to the other. This is an item of some small sentimental value to Yuka.
Skills
Hojutsushi: Yuka showed a natural aptitude for magic from an early age, able to manipulate winds and mana leylines in ways that her contemporaries simply could not match. Her main specialism was in the Nipponese arcane form known as Hojutsu, with its focus on cosmology, natural science, and elementalism. Her power swelled as she matured from girl to woman, and it was testament to her levelheaded willpower that she never once lost control over it. However, at the same time, she has never been able to tap into its full potential, even by the modest standards of most Nipponese magi. At the moment, her skill with the arcane is above average compared to a standard Althanasian wizard.
Yuka's Hojutsu powers are fairly primal in nature, sacrificing the conjurative aspect of most Althanasian magical arts in favour of pure manipulation of mana. Hence, although many of her spells are quick to cast and easy to control and master, they can lack in power unless the appropriate spells are cast at particular locations. For example, spells manipulating water are far more powerful with a river in sight than they are in the middle of a desert; similarly, those of a light alignment are extremely weak on a moonless night. Finally, it is extremely difficult to create a truly destructive spell in Hojutsu - one of the very reasons why Nipponese magi are not as renowned as their counterparts elsewhere on Althanas.
Aeroblast (Renku): Fundamental wind manipulation - hurls a sustained and focused gust of air at a target. The spell lacks the power enough to damage armoured opponents, although it will toss about lighter foes with ease.
Aquablast (Suisho): Fundamental water manipulation - hurls a sustained and focused torrent of water at a target. Can apply more blunt trauma than its wind-elemental counterpart, and is more effective against heavier foes.
Obscuring Mists (Shimoshigure): A basic concealment spell, invoking heavy mists to envelop the vicinity and shroud the wielder.
Synapse Shock (Ranshinsho): Channels a powerful static shock through a target's nervous system via touch. The effect upon the target is individual, but ranges from no effect at all to an inability to properly control voice and limbs, and in some extreme cases temporary paralysis.
Healing Touch (Shosenjutsu): Attempts to heal a wound by revitalising the cells in the affected area, stimulating the body's natural healing process. Not useful at all under combat situations due to the time and concentration required to heal even the most basic of cuts, and won't affect anything deeper than a sword slice or more complicated than a simple fracture. Is very useful, however, at stemming heavy bleeding.
Injutsushi: Injutsu, or sigil magic, is a semi-unique art which Yuka employs in order to aid her Hojutsu techniques. By tracing certain Nipponese characters upon her palm, she is able to call upon various powers without drawing upon vast quantities of mana. Although the spells that form the basis of the sigils are amongst the most powerful available to practitioners of Hojutsu, they require long periods of preparation along with auspicious heavenly portents in order to be successfully cast; the sigils below can be considered portable variants of such epic magic - although far more limited in their scope and effect, they are also far less demanding in the heat of battle.
Yuka also has knowledge of the greater variants of each of these spells as well, but since they are largely ceremonial and impractical to the extent of being almost unusable (especially in situations involving any form of combat), they are omitted from the list of her skills. Her skill with Injutsu is directly related to her skill with Hojutsu, and thus is above average.
Sigil of Shielding (Shu no in): By tracing a sigil (守), forms an impenetrable arcane barrier that can ward off attacks for a short period of time (10 seconds to a minute, depending upon the nature of the damage inflicted upon the shield).
Sigil of Sight (Gan no in): By tracing a sigil (眼), grants extrasensory perception such that Yuka gains night vision and can instinctively sense any being within sight (unless they are concealed by a magic more powerful than her own).
Sigil of Binding (Baku no in): By tracing a sigil (縛), binds a foe in range with invisible arcane restraints. At the moment, the spell only works on those almost within reach of her hand, only if they are less powerful than Yuka, and only for extremely short (five seconds at most) periods of time.
Sigil of Sleep (Min no in): By tracing a sigil (眠), casts an area-effect spell that sends all not resistant to its effects (whether by forewarning or innate resistance) to sleep. At current levels, the spell is extremely prone to being resisted, especially by other spellcasters.
Sigil of Speed (Soku no in): By tracing a sigil (速), enhances her own reflexes and speed such that she can move far faster than (twice as fast as) normal.
Sakigake: Although not as specialised as her arcane knowledge, Yuka is also trained in the arts of the sakigake or pathfinder; it is in this domain that the vast majority of her martial skills lie. Her natural athleticism and stamina, as well as her tutelage under some of the most accomplished masters in Nippon, mean that she can more than hold her own against professional pathfinders. She has exceptional physical agility and endurance, as well as roughly average ability with the bow. Her skills in close-combat with both staff and sword, however, are poor, and she much prefers to play to her strengths and stay out of melee. She also only has rudimentary skills in tracking and scouting, covering her lack of knowledge in the area with her magic instead.
Arcane Arrow (Soshuha): Weaves an arcane arrow from the winds of magic, which can then be launched from the staff-bow. Arrows thus created are naturally more accurate (do not suffer from wind resistance, etc.) but disappear upon impact and cause less overall damage than comparable normal arrows.
Arcane Barrage (Soshugeki): Weaves multiple arcane arrows and launches them at once in multiple arcing paths towards their targets.
Wings of the Seraphim: Many Nipponese mages are associated with a guardian spirit to match their personality and their talents. Not all are so lucky, and some will spend their entire lives fruitlessly searching for such an entity. Yuka has very recently - and largely through her friend Thomas's research on the matter - discovered her association with a winged astral spirit known as a Tensei (literally, celestial saint), resembling an angel with six wings. At the moment this ability is in stasis; it does not have any noticeable effect whatsoever.
Character History
Yuka Kanamai's childhood - or at least, what little she allows herself to remember of it - was far from a happy one. Officially, Yuka was born into a relatively affluent middle-class merchant family in the eastern islands of Nippon. Unofficially, however, the respectable facade of her family was but a front that disguised their position as head of a powerful underworld organisation, and she was trained from a young age in the nuances of their trades, including but not limited tobribery, coercion, and assassination. The signs were plentiful that from a very young age, Yuka Kanamai was destined for greatness; the elves who watched over her called her Elerrina, "Crowned with Stars", for she was by far the brightest of the children that were born that year.
As she grew, she did little to prove her nickname wrong; despite her upbringing, she remained at heart both gentle and kind, in addition to intelligent and athletic. Her parents and tutors, sensing a valuable opportunity in her talents martial and magical as well as a growing sense of frustration at being unable to break the young girl despite their persistent efforts, broke off her induction at a crucial stage and instead decided to mould her into a legitimate front for their organisation. It was little surprise when she progressed into the foremost academic institution in the land, the Toho Institute of Higher Learning, along with a close group of friends - amongst them 'Ingwe Helyanwe', Thomas Motokaji, and Yoshi Sanada - whose presence kept her sane and allowed her to keep the ghosts of her past at bay. She kept her personal history a quiet secret, however, relying heavily upon their company to maintain her fragile sense of self.
Her skills grew noticeably day by day, and there were very few within the student body who could match her prodigal talent. Through it all, however, she never let her abilities get to her head, and there were very few within the student body who could match the effort she poured into her studies either. Yet over time, the seeds of dissent were sown, and a silent rivalry developed between two of the few who could match her in both talent and effort - Thomas and Ingwe - that would eventually tear them all apart in one fateful night.
The reasons why she followed Thomas to Haidia, or whether she even did so of her own free will, remain shrouded in mystery. All that was known to those that she left behind was that she was alive and well, and that her powers grew boundlessly, nurtured by the skyless fires and fathomless tomes of the underworld. Her progress was so significant that it caught the eye of a mysterious organisation known only as the "Cabal", who proceeded to spirit her away to an alternate dimension in which the Tournament of Champions was held. It was there that she first met Lask Ventrist and Cael Strandssen, whom she would later count amongst her best friends, and where she first pit her skills against real-life opponents... and found them lacking. Despite her inexperience, she managed to somehow work her way to the quarterfinals of the tournament, where she and Lask were defeated by a pair of daemonic entities completely beyond their powers to combat.
When she awoke once more, Yuka found herself in Scara Brae, where an encounter with the street performer Duffy Bracken was the first indication that she had been entered - by forces unknown - in the fabled Magus Cup. On top of that, the Cabal had stripped her of the majority of her powers, leaving her with only the bare minimum of her former prowess. Determined to return to Haidia and discover a way to regain them, she set off once more on her journey, encountering many other opponents upon her path. Only after reuniting with Cael and facing off against the fabled Teric Barton was she finally able to return to someplace that she could call home.
Sometime after all this, Yuka was caught up in the events of the Raiaeran conflict, striking a deal to accompany her daemonic patron Natosatael in attaining power in the corporeal plane; her ulterior motive was to escape from Thomas's influence in Haidia, which was starting to get slightly overbearing. Summoned along with Natosatael to the side of the Death Lord Maeril Thyrrian, almost immediately she engaged Ingwe and the Legion of Light in battle, culminating in defeat at the Battle of Nenaebreth. She accompanied them both northwards towards the city of Trenyce, but growing tensions within the undead camp as well as the unwanted attentions of Maeril's chief necromancer finally convinced her to abandon her undead allies in favour of freedom. A desperate escape attempt ensued, in which she evaded pursuit and ended up in the Raiaeran city of Winyaurient just in time to save it from destruction by Maeril's secret gambit.
The Two Tournaments Arc
Team Registration - The Wanderers (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=17950) - Quest, in which a young woman is spirited away to places unknown for reasons unfathomed.
Bridge (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=18184) - Quest, in which said young woman makes the acquaintance of a future friend.
Sasurai vs. Destined Intervention (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=18129) - Battle, in which said young woman loses out in a battle of words.
Sasurai vs. The Ixidar Legacy (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=18608) - Battle, in which said young woman faces down the thunder.
Sasurai vs. The Whole Glory (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=19023) - Battle, in which said young woman is completely overpowered by a titan or two.
Yuka Kanamai vs. Duffy Bracken (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=19589) - Battle, in which said young woman races across the rooftops.
Yuka Kanamai vs. Patrick McCullough (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=19760) - Battle, in which said young woman is nearly charmed by an old pro.
Yuka Kanamai and Jason Sumnner vs. The Old Guard (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=19874) - Battle, in which said young woman is ambushed by a pair of veterans.
Yuka Kanamai vs. Cael Strandssen (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=20008) - Battle, in which said young woman reunites with a good friend.
Yuka Kanamai vs. Teric Barton (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=20088) - Battle, in which said young woman somehow survives an encounter with the best.
Legion of Light (FQ - Raiaera) Arc
Miracle on a Silent Night (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=18028) - Quest, in which a young woman steps out into the light only to be taken hostage.
In the Shadow of Ancient Champions (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=18463) - Quest, in which said hostage faces off against an old friend.
Prelude to Ruination (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=19882) - Solo, in which said hostage hears of a diabolical plan.
Symphonia Destructio (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=20039) - Solo, in which said hostage flees from her fate, only to find herself forging her destiny anew.