Post by Progress on Mar 15, 2011 20:39:00 GMT -5
[align=center]Vaizard
Sorry...Who Are You?[/align]
Name: Artix Von Creg
Age: 517 (appears to be in his thirties or forties)
Gender: Male
Loyalties: Months of living alone in the human world with nothing but his own memories to keep him company has fashioned Artix into a completely neutral being. Upon returning to Karakura he has no loyalties to any organization, character or ideals other than his own.
[align=center]What Makes Us...Us?[/align]
Height & Weight Six foot four, 240lbs
Hair & Eye Colour
Where once there was a long flowing tail of pure charcoal colored hair Artix's head now has a new look about it. While still long it is significantly shorter than it used to be as it falls scraggly and unkempt to hang just above his shoulders. With an incentive he may desire to take care of it beyond the basic necessities and tie it back once more but as of yet he has no such want. On his travels there were never any available facilities where he could groom himself and he has thus grown accustomed to looking so worse for wear. Little has changed about his infamous eyes; the left eye still holds it's crimson color due to the kido spell that hit him in the face all those years ago. His right eye still remains a sight to behold: the whites have been turned crimson and the deep pit of black that is the iris encircles a blood red pupil. Many people have admitted that it is unnerving to say the least to have Artix's right eye look upon them as it's strange color makes it's stare intense and uncomfortable. As such he hides it away under an eyepatch.
Noticable Difference
Artix's complexion had once been white as snow however his time spent in countries where the sun burns the sands has tanned his porcelain skin. His long period of solitude has called for little use from his eyepatch and as such the tan lines one would think would be caused by the patch do not exist. The eyepatch itself has undergone it's first dramatic change; instead of cloth Artix has chosen a new material: leather, more specifically leather that has been dyed a dirty dark red and has many scratches and scuffs that make it look worn out. Around the edges of the patch there are multiple metal studs that upon first glance make it look as if they used to embed the patch into his face since the patch's straps are thin and usually hidden beneath his hair. In truth they are simply used to keep the outer leather texture and inner comfortable cloth attached to each other.
The face of The Demon King hasn't changed too much over the years. A few wrinkles have been deepened and a few new scars have been collected, these scars now appear more obvious and stand out because of his newly tanned skin. The areas of skin covered by the eyepatch are gnarled and twisted, as if at one point in his life Artix had been the victim of a terrible fire accident. His face itself is very square and edged, his features hardly ever curve and instead end sharply. To top off his rough grizzled look his chin and upper lip have a light shade of a goatee.
If a smile was rare from Artix before it is certainly an occurrence that happens once every blue moon now. Unless angered or frustrated it is usually hard to determine what might be going on within Artix's head, if anything at all. When he does smile however it seems stretched and awkward, almost as if his face isn't used to such an expression.
His body is like that of a man used to hard labor. Very large and muscled accordingly. There really is nothing more to say other than how physically fit and in some cases monstrous he looks. All across his body there are scars, ranging from tiny nicks to huge deep gouges. Most of them are situated around his chest and stomach, much less so around his arms and legs and there are hardly any upon his neck and face. The largest scar he has is a huge burn mark that stretches from his jaw, down to his shoulder, across his chest and stomach before ending at his hip. The mark is thinner at the jaw and grows wider as it progresses downwards, when it reaches his chest it begins to thin out again and ends in a point at his hip.
Since returning to the soul society as fifth division captain under the rule of the Golden Court Artix has once agained donned his shinigami uniform. His shihakusho is unispiring and generic, the only differences that make it stand out from other shinigami would be the multitide of rips and tears along the sleeves, accumulated over years of wear and tear. The ends of the sleeves and legs being jagged and torn.
The fifth division haori however has changed much since he last wore it, or more accurately it has been replaced. The dirty, beaten and torn coat that Artix used to wear and had passed down to his Vice-captain is no more and now he wears an immaculate new haori with only a single imperfection; Artix, not liking the feel of his shihakusho sleeves and haori sleeves layered over each other, has ripped off the sleeves. Exactly how long it's pristine condition will last however cannot be known for certain.
Fashion isn't exactly something Artix takes notice in. As such his gigai is rather simple. Dressing in the latest trends would only draw attention, as a result Artix tries to blend in with clothes that ardent too bright or too dark. This usually consists of a regular buttoned shirt or T-shirt combined with jeans and steel toe capped work boots. The only thing that he wears regularly would be a thin black leather jacket. One particular article of clothing that Artix has become rather fond of would be the cloak that he used to keep his body shielded from the raging sands of the desert. It was once light brown but the color has quickly warped due to use and abuse and now appears to be more grey than brown.
Artix has many accessories, call them good luck charms, mementos, trinkets or whatever. The first being a small locket tied around his neck by a thin golden chain. The locket itself is shaped like a small rectangle with a crease in the middle, looking a lot like an old tattered book. The second item would be a simple silver ring. The surface of the ring is almost always shining with radiance and the only visible engraving upon the silver trinket are the initials of Artix’s name. A.V.C. The final piece of jewelry is certainly an odd one. A key chain attached to his belt that takes the shape of a rose with pink colored petals. Quite an uncharacteristic item for somebody like Artix to own.
Positive Traits
Negative Traits
TMI?:
Personality:
For the longest time Artix believed that being alone was best for him and would keep him safe and prevent the headaches that came with dealing with people, of course that was when there were people around him. Now that he has lived for months in complete solitude he has had the opportunity to think on the benefits of running as a member of a pack rather than a lone wolf and as a result he tends to be more accepting of people who try to interact with him. His lack of trust is still present however he understands the benefits of having allies.
Over time Artix has become more tolerant with those who anger him and while his fuse is still fairly easy to spark it has definitely increased in length. Invoking his wrath depends partly upon the person and the subject being discussed. In other words pressing the right buttons will enrage him quicker. There is one thing about his anger that hasn't changed however and that is just how deep it goes. Artix has collected a constantly bubbling pool of hate and sorrow which only fuels his rage. After a while he no longer becomes angry at the original topic and instead begins to draw his fury from deep within himself; memories, thoughts and feelings. Once he has gone past the point of no return anybody around to witness the destruction will soon understand why they still call him The Demon King.
Artix has never been one for complying with the people in charge simply because of his belief that Leadership is something that needs to be gained. To him, those who are born into power or have it given to them on a silver platter do not deserve such power. Those who forcibly take power are even worse. In his opinion a leader doesn't have to be liked to be effective, as long as they are respected and are exceptional at doing their job with minimal casualties. The ways Artix expresses these feelings however are a little rough around the edges as he ignores orders given to him and in some cases depending upon the person in question may even do the exact opposite of what he has been asked. He isn't afraid to split from the group and achieve a goal by himself if he believes that the group wont be as effective as it could be. As such he tends to come across as confrontational, stubborn, disobedient and rebellious. He tends to react negatively to being told what to do by people he doesn't respect or agree with, even outside of combat situations.
Being a rather relaxed person in his neutral state Artix enjoys sitting outside of the goings on around him, preferring instead to watch events unfold and return to the scene only when he feels ready. While everybody else may be chatting away having a merry time Artix would sit aside in peace. Occasionally a kind hearted soul may perceive Artix as being left out and attempt to draw him into the situation. When he tries to disentangle himself from said person they usually become offended and then Artix gets into the kind of situation he tries to avoid. Of course being a quiet person and being a rather intimidating looking man can cause some people to choose NOT to talk to him and that suits him just fine.
Despite all of this Artix isn't a being lacking in kindness or compassion, his cold and rocky outer shell has formed around him thanks to centuries of hard living. His heart however is far from being a cavernous chasm of ice, it just takes quite a bit of chipping away in order to reach it. As a fellow underdog Artix has a natural affinity for the beaten and the downtrodden, those who are looked down on by their peers, he feels as if he can relate to these kinds of people more than others and thus they will find it a lot easier to gain his trust than say, a noble.
His kinder side is almost like that of an older brother. Watching out for those closest to him and protecting them with everything he has. Once you have broken through Artix’s cold and almost heartless shell and gained his trust and friendship he’s a friend for life and will stand by you until the end. If the time calls for it he would gladly lay his life on the line for his loved ones.
Some of Artix's habits include playing with his necklace when bored, uncomfortable or nervous, thinking too deeply and not listening to what people say and falling asleep at the most inopportune times. His worst habit though is his heavy drinking. Drinking to drown the hate, the memories, the sadness. All of it washed away in alcohol.
[align=center]We...The Fallen Comrades[/align]
Zanpakuto Spirit: Kuroitaiyou. (Black Sun)
Artix's zanpakuto spirit takes the form of a wolf that appears in various sizes, he can be taller than a house or as small as a terrier though there doesn't seem to be any pattern to the varying sizes that he takes. His fur is sleek and mostly flat however it bristle's just around the neck giving him the slight appearance of a small black lion. His eyes contain a calm sea of yellow entwined with brown along the rim of the pupil.
Kuroitaiyou very rarely acts aggressive towards anyone unless the situation demands it. He comes across as a very calm and level headed individual with a well thought out opinion on most things. He makes very analytical observations of situations that require care and precision and enforces an equal amount of detail when witnessing Artix's actions. To Artix Kuroitaiyou is almost like an all knowing being, able to see the consequences of Artix's actions before he even commits them. More often than not he confesses his disappointment in Artix's lack of insight as to what might happen because of what he chose to do. Ultimately however Kuroitaiyou wishes Artix to learn by himself, the think about his own actions and learn from his mistakes Kuroitaiyou exists only to make the process a little easier for him.
Some would call Kuroi Artix's opposite, this isn't true yet they do indeed seem to be two entirely different personality's at all times and they hardly agree with each other.
Sealed Zanpakuto:
The sealed state of Kuroi Taiyou is rather unique in its own way. It has a crimson colored hilt as if stained by the blood that it once held and a dull golden guard. Embedded into the guard is an aborigine styled set of flames that spiral around until they meet the edge of blade. The blade itself is as normal as any other sword shimmering in the light like a reaper carefully draped in a beautiful veil. The sheathe is jet black with a white flame design at the base, the mouth of the sheathe is shaped like a wolf's head the fur spiking downwards as if charging into battle, its jaws wide and bearing its terrible fangs. The blade is inserted into the mouth of the wolf to conceal it.
Shikai Appearance : Immolate, Kuroitaiyou
The weapon that replaces Artix's katana, or rather the weapon it turns into is a European long sword. The hilt of the blade stands at 15cm in length. Two hands would be required to cover three fourths of it. The blade of the sword measures in at 50cm (1.3m) giving the overall blade a rating of 65cm in total. In unison with its large size the weight of the sword (unlike most long swords) is a whole 3kg, rather heavy for a sword of its type.
The basic's of the hilt define a simple piece of metal in the shape of a large letter T. At each end of the guard there is a small wooden ring, the rings face the same way as the flat side of the blade. the pommel of the hilt, which would end with a small ball or some kind of larger shape on traditional European long swords, ends with another metal ring, but this time the ring faces the same way as the blades edge. Through the ring is a smooth wooden stick the same size as the guard giving the hilt the shape of the letter H or I depending on how you look at it.
Around the grip of the hilt is a red fabric, crossing over white like a katana. Something never used for long swords. Attached to the rings on either side of the guard are rusted metal chains. The size of them is rather small about the size of somebody's thumbnail and each chain holds five links.
The blade of the sword is wider than most long swords which are usually only a few inches wider than the hilt. The best way to describe this would be to compare it to the wide blade of a gladius while it still has the length of a long sword, this makes the weapon a rather intimidating object.
The blades design is simple. Just the regular double edged sword ending in as fine a point as possible, although, just above the guard there is a single hole running right through to the other side about the same size as the rim of a shot glass. An indent runs down the middle of the blade, colored red blade while the rest of the blade is a shining steel silver.
Shikai Abilities:
For the first few moments after release Kuroitaiyou remains as it appears in it's long sword form. After a while however it combusts into pitch black flames that burn without light, though they generate a heat so intense that it is difficult to be near them for even a short period of time and touching them instantly scolds. Prolonged periods of time of up to merely a few seconds in physical contact with these flames can cause skin to melt and warp. The flames start off small at first, burning relatively close to the blade and as time passes the fire grows more and more monstrous.
The growing fire is an indication of how much reiatsu is stored within the blade, the black fire is simply the excess reiatsu that the sword can't hold. This is because Artix's immense spiritual energy is constantly flowing into the blade and as mentioned before; being stored. Once enough energy has been stored it can be released in an instant in order to cause an explosion that propels Artix's blade when swung giving his attacks immense strength. Artix himself is immune to his zanpakuto's effects.
Bankai Appearance:
Once the release phrase has been said Artix appears to spontaneously combust in a black inferno and as quickly as it appears it compresses back in towards itself, revealing Artix once more. His leather jacket now sparks, crackles and radiates the same kind of heat that his flames do, essentially it is the fire. Another new addition to Artix's appearance is the blazing ring floating a little over his head. A crown for The Demon King.
The blade changes drastically, being nearly six foot in length. The same as Artix. Its size however adds no contribution to its weight, one would think that such a large sword would be extremely heavy, well to anybody who hasn't wielded Kuroitaiyou it would weigh atleast a few tonnes. To Artix however its like wielding a normal katana, he can move it with precise aim and swiftness. This combined with its deadly long reach make it a vicious weapon.
The handle of the blade is nothing more than a wooden stick wrapped with a white cloth, two wooden prongs sit either side and act as the hilts pommel. The guard is just a metal strip with separate segments all welded together, on either side of the guard sit two large metal rings. Attached to these rings are two lengthy chains made of metal.
The blade itself is the centre of attraction. From the guard upwards it remains straight like any normal blade, the steel that its made from stained jet black apart from the swirling red markings upon the side. But once it reaches the tip it begins to curve outwards into two separate pronged spikes. From the tip of these two spikes the blade curves inwards again and ends with a pointed tip, much like the anchor of a ship. Three holes punctured through the metal hold a triangle formation in the centre of the anchor head blade.
Release phrase : Bankai!! Kuroitaiyou Choshinsei (Black Sun Supernova)
Bankai Ability:
All of these previous factors of Artix's shikai remain the same. There is one more factor that unleashes itself upon the activation of bankai however. Artix has the ability to manipulate the flames as if they were his very own limbs, bearing in mind he can only do this with very simple shapes such as large whips or huge flaming fists, etc. The fiery shapes range from realistic sized (A sword would be the same size as his zanpakuto) To atleast eight foot in size. The larger the blazing object however the more energy Artix needs to use and the less movement ability he would have in his body.
The ability of the bankai is something Artix calls Okibi Furiko (Blazing pendulum):
The flames add a weighted effect to any piece of organic matter it meets by discharging a part of Artix's Spiritual energy (modified to give it a weighted effect) into the opponent, so when the Flames meet an opponent the limb that has been hit becomes a little heavier but not by much only enough to slow the opponent down and make them sluggish. For example if Artix were to hit his opponents arm, the reaction time for that particular arm would be a little slower than the rest of the body. The weight doesn't accumulate after each hit however, Artix must strike all parts of the body in some way for the ability to take full effect, both arms, both legs, torso and head. Apart from dousing the flames with an icy type attack another way to negate the effects is to meet the flames with an attack that has an equal or greater spirit level, this would normally overload the amount of reiatsu burning in the blade and block the flames from burning.
[align=center]Me...The Corrupting Grin[/align]
Inner Hollow:
Artix's inner hollow is the spitting image of himself a few centuries ago when he still resided in Rukongai. The inner hollow is everything that Artix hates about himself and everything he has tried to leave behind rolled into one large and demonic being. The only huge difference between Artix and his inner hollow is the fact that his inner hollow's skin is as white as chalk and his eyes are a shining emerald green just like they had been all those years ago.
His hair is a little shorter, falling over his shoulders but not quite reaching the arch of his back like the real Artix's. His face is somewhat younger and less square although the physical and mental hardship he has been through is still evident. The scars across his body are fewer and further between than Artix's and are less visible against his color devoid skin.
The clothes he wears consist of nothing but rags patched together very loosely and in such a way that makes it seem like they were made by somebody who had no skill in the art of sewing. The shirt is more like a ragged poncho draped over his shoulders hanging down to his thighs. His legs are covered by pants that have small holes in them and are very muddy and torn around the ankles. His feet are bare, as are his hands and face.
Mask Appearance:
Artix's mask is the physical manifestation of what he used to be and is still know as: The Demon King. The mask starts off regular human head sized at the top and becomes thinner and thinner as it progresses down to the chin. The head of the mask is shaped into three separate spikes, two on either side of the head, curving outwards and one in the very middle curving inwards. The two curving outwards are to represent a demons horns, all three spikes together are meant to represent a crown, thus "The demon king."
The eyes of the mask are shaped like pitch black diamonds turned on their sides and slightly tilted to dip downwards. The nose of the mask is barely visible as it becomes so thin but it is attached to the crown and curves downwards through the middle of the eyes and ends in a very fine point in the middle of the face. The mouth of the mask represents Artix's distrustful nature and refusal to say more than a few sentences to strangers. This shows itself as a small set of horrifying skulls teeth at the very front of the mouth while the corners of the mouth are sewn shut. Finally the chin of the mouth is separated into three thinner spikes, this is also to represent "The demon king."
The markings on Artix's mask have meanings all of their own: looking at the eyes one would notice a thick blue line streaking from either one, this shows the tragedy of Artix's life and how much it has grieved him in the past. If one starts at the middle chin point however and follows the line up they would see that it spreads out in three directions at it rises, this represents how far Artix has come in his life. He has made it through the worst the world can offer and has ascended to better things, thus broadening his outlook on life.
The method that Artix uses to don his mask is rather effective. He covers his face with his arm and takes hold of his eyepatch with one hand. He then tears the patch from his face and as his arm moves away from his head the mask appears in a trail of black fire that follows his eyepatch and his fingers. Since the eyeholes of the mask are constantly pitch black, all one would be able to see would be two extremely intimidating red dots, glowing in the darkness as eyes.
Mask Abilities:
The ability of Artix's mask is to release an extremely heavy shockwave every time his blade hits something. If his blade should connect with the enemies sword then the shockwave would vibrate not only through the air, forcing the opponent back but also down the sword and into the opponent themselves, disorienting them. It may cause slight vision problems and hearing problems as well the ability to move, E.G., blurred image, muffled sounds, wobbly movements so nothing too drastic.
The shockwave also emits a sheet of sound wave depressant reiatsu. Like a black and white movie. Anything the opponent says or does will not give off any sound at all. This limits the use of kido and other techniques that require an incantation.
Inner world:
Artix's inner world is a strange one, As it changes depending on his mood. For example if Artix were angry then his inner world would be something along the lines of though not limited to a huge volcano erupting ferociously. If he is calm and collected however it may be a quiet woodland or meadow. However no matter how much it changes it all has something in common: they are all bases of nature reflect the base emotions that Artix experiences. Never will you see a building, skyscraper, car or anything articifial for that matter in Artix's inner world.
Depending upon the state of the world the noises around Artix reflect the world itself, animal noises, wind, etc. The strange thing about the noises though is that the source of them is never visible if it should come from an organic being. For example in a rainforest one would expect to see birds, insects, mammals and the like. In Artix's world one would hear all of these things and see vague figures in the distance, though any clear image of an animal other than Kuroitaiyou is impossible to catch.
[align=center]FLASHBACK[/align]
Background:
Sacrificing a family:
As a member of a poor family in the sixteenth century Artix didn't exactly live a life of luxury. He was loved by his mother and his younger sister and in turn he loved them, though he had always had problems when dealing with his father. All of the arguments in the house were caused because of Artix and his father's frequent disputes. Both of them had trouble controlling their tempers and it was only with the unique mediating skills of his mother that Artix and his father's arguments never came to blows. That wasn't the extent of the families problems however. They were riddled in debt. For whatever reason Artix's father owed a lot of people a lot of money, money that they simply could not repay. It wasn't known by Artix's mother exactly how much money was owed and both Arty and his sister were blissfully oblivious of the debt. But they had done well for years and his father assured that the money was being repaid slowly and regularly so they had nothing to worry about.
He lied.
Out of the blue the house was raided. Artix's father met the invaders at the door of the house while Artix, his sister Rose and his mother hid themselves away. The sounds of the scuffle was clear. Men yelling, items and furniture being knocked over. It was futile. They were all found and dragged by the hair or by the arm in Artix's case into the largest room in the house; the dining room. All three of them were lined up in front of Artix's father. Blood decorated one of the walls and a pool of the copper tasting liquid began to collect around his mothers body. The blade extracted from her chest. Arty and Rose wailed and screamed, tears pouring down their cheeks. His father begged them to stop. Tried to convince them that he could get the money. More blood and the life in Rose's eyes faded away. Before giving the man his final punishment for not repaying them on time they explained why they were doing what they were doing. Artix learned of it all. He felt the hate welling up inside of himself, rising. They talked maliciously, they wanted their "Client" to suffer. As they prolonged Artix's death all he could do was stare at his father as he shook with fury. It boiled. It burned his insides. It scorched his blood.
He stared directly into his fathers watery eyes with his blazing green one's. He seemed to stare at Artix as if to say "I'm sorry" and that threw Artix over the edge. The maturing teenage boy roared as he forced himself out of his captors grasp, grabbed one of the invaders swords in their shock and swung it down. A sword was plunged through his back, piercing his heart and slid out of his chest. Artix clung to life for those last few moments as blood poured down his body, looking at the scene before him. The sword in his hand was lodged in the head of his own father. He didn't mean to...He didn't want to...He just blacked out. The sword was taken from within his body and he fell forwards onto his fathers corpse. The debt had been repayed.
Fooled, robbed and betrayed:
Artix upon entering the soul society had lost all memory of his human life. His mother was nothing but a huge smear of different colors. His sister was simply a pair of watery crystal blue eyes followed by a huge blot of crimson. The face of his father with that blade carved into his brain was burned clearly into his mind though. Not having any knowledge of who it was or what it was scared Artix and he tried not to think about it. But the nightmares he couldn't prevent.
Artix had really drawn the short straw as he passed through the soul check in counter of the soul society. He had been informed that he was going to be sent into one of the many districts of rukongai, they were numbered one to eighty with eighty being the worst. The worst in what however Artix had no clue. A small slip of paper had been handed to him by a man dressed in black and sporting a rather dangerous looking katana. The paper read “district 78, rukongai†and in an instant he was carted off like some kind of unwanted refugee.
The next thing he knew he had been thrown through a huge pair of wooden gates barred with iron bolts and reinforced with steel to prevent escape. The moment Artix’s teenage body thudded down onto the dusty dirt road the gates had shut and sealed themselves. He was alone. Looking around at the broken buildings and defaced landscape Artix could tell that living here would definitely be tough. His first thought was to find shelter and plan his next action and so finding a small run down warehouse with nothing but a few crates and a flea bitten mattress he settled down and calmed his nerves with sleep.
Days, weeks, maybe even months passed and Artix still hadn't seen a single soul. He didn't dare move from the entrance to the 78th district fearing what he might meet if he ventured in too far. Upon returning home from his daily patrol of the area, attempting to find any signs of life he was shocked to see a girl around the same age as he, sleeping on his mattress. She lay on her stomach with her eyes closed and her head facing towards him resting upon her arms.
Her slick shadowed hair was tied into two ponytails, each one sprouting from either side of her head. She had the body of a perfect slender sixteen year old, limbs sprawled out upon the mangy mattress. She was clothed in a dirty white rag which Artix presumed was once a posh dress gown however the frills had been torn away and worn with use and there were occasional rips or tears in the dress. Her smooth blot less skin was a darkened ebony color, her face smudged with dirt and a few cuts and bruises here and there. Despite this however she seemed quite beautiful as the shape of her head was heart like, rounding slightly as it came to her chin. Her cheeks were elated with a slight plumpness. Small, petite lips held in a tiny “o†formation as she slept, a light drizzle of drool hanging from the corner of her mouth.
An hour passed as Artix sat with his back against the cold stone wall simply staring at the ebony skinned girl in front of him. How long had it been since he had seen another person, he no longer felt like he had been abandoned, he no longer felt alone. After months of living on his own and wandering the streets aimlessly, slowly losing himself and becoming a hollow shell this beautiful young girl came out of nowhere and rescued him from the darkness. A flicker of long black eyelashes and a light drowsy groan escaped from the young woman as she began to rise from her peaceful slumber.
She sat herself upright, leaning on her left arm and rubbing the dust from her eye’s with the other, since she was lying on her stomach Artix hadn't really noticed it but her chest was plump and rather impressive for a mere sixteen year old. “HEY!! Pervert, those aint the orbs you should be lookin’ at†the girls voice brought Artix to his senses, she sounded light and majestic apart from the aggressive undertone that she chose to adorn however a good point of her was that she had the same English accent as Artix.
“I-im sorry†Artix stammered as he averted his gaze towards the girls eyes and surprisingly he was drawn in by them. They were golden and seemed to resonate with a ferocious yet inspiring aura, something that made him feel like he could continue and conquer his new life in the slums. “Nah, its awright after all it aint everyday a lil spit fuck like you gets to see a wonderfully pretty girl like me.†Her tone of voice and the way she talked was extremely crude, then again it was expected from somebody who lived life on the streets.
“Wots your name ?â€
“E-excuse me ?â€
“Well I cant keep callin’ ya spit fuck for the rest of your afterlife can I?â€
“My names Artix.â€
“Mines Aldestinaâ€
Even though this strange girl was rather rude and spoke with little care for what other people thought of her, something about her seemed to strike Artix. Despite having only just met she was incredibly friendly and didn't really seem like a bad person, her outgoing attitude acted as a beacon of guidance to the shy and silent Artix. She was somebody he could easily count on. They had spent the rest of the day conversing and Artix explained his situation of being alone in a place entirely unfamiliar with no memories of his past life and only a few trinkets to ponder over. Aldestina only answered with small nods and the odd rise of one of her thin dark eyebrows.
Not long after Aldestina had told Artix about another building not too far from their current location inhabited by a small gang of teenager’s who only want to be able to live easily and not in fear of everything else around them. To Artix this seemed like a good idea, a whole gang of other kids with the exact same idea as him and there was safety in numbers. As soon as they were ready the two ventured deeper into the 78th district, moving as fast as they could to avoid conflict with the other menacing residence that gave them sinister glares as they passed by. “Make no eye contact and don't even ‘fink about stopping†Aldestina instructed Artix with such seriousness he didn't even dare look at her.
One minute Artix was staring down a deserted high road, dead fields on either side complete with a withered tree, the sky growing dark and daunting. The next he found himself in complete darkness as he stumbled to the side. “Welcome to my humble abode†came a sly voice, Artix whipped his head around but it was hard to see anything through the darkness. “Now that your here, we shall have to kill y-OW!!†a few scuffling noises and then finally a huge thud followed by Aldestinas voice. “Clown you jackass, he's with me!!†she scolded and slowly the lights flickered and Artix’s eyes were invaded painfully forcing him to squint.
Three faces were all staring in his direction with warm and comforting expressions. Aldestina was standing over a rather lanky looking boy with her fist raised, a huge red mark had been smacked onto the boy’s face. “I told ya not to pull that crap†she warned before returning to her usual straight backed posture. Suddenly voices began to whisper amongst themselves and talk as if Artix wasn't even present.
“Who the hells that guy ?â€
“He doesn't look like muchâ€
“Hey Grimm what do you think of him ?â€
“I couldn't care lessâ€
“I wonder if he can cook a decent mealâ€
“What are you saying about my cooking!!â€
“SHADDAP!!!†Aldestina bellowed and instantly everybody fell silent, clearly she was the alpha wolf in this pack. “This is Artix, hes a new addition to our group so hit the dance floor and ill introduce ya†she added and right away there were three people standing in front of him, all of which came from different directions as if they were scattered and hiding like rats.
Aldestina had stepped away from her previous spot and stood directly beside the young man she had previously punched in the jaw. She introduced each and every one of them, permitting them to say a little bit about themselves and shake Artix's hand. It couldn't have been better, Artix was happier than he had ever been since coming to the soul society, he had found a small group of kids just like him who had been tossed into this world without a second glance.
A few years passed and finally Artix had gained his own nickname in the team. “Silent King†as he didn't talk much and the only response you’d ever receive from him would be a small nod of hum of understanding. It was his job in the group to gather resources, which meant he had to steal from local street vendors in order to provide the things they needed to survive. Over the years they had accumulated a large amount of treasures and provisions and things couldn't be any better. But naturally nothing good ever lasts.
Artix’s latest score had been a small golden statue of a dragon and a bag of apples. He rushed home to introduce his new treasure to the other guys, he flung himself through the warehouse doors. All he was greeted by was the soft whistling of the wind blowing through a desolate and deserted floor space. He attempted calling out, but no reply came. He searched the warehouse and the surrounding area but none of them were in sight, not even those of the group who rarely left the warehouse. Upon searching the storage crates he found that they had been stripped bare, all of the silver and golden valuables he had collected over the years had been stolen by none other than his own friends. How could he be so stupid. The districts of rukongai were numbered with the highest being the worst for a reason. They were filled with hoodlums, murderers and most of all traitors. He released the bag and the dragon from his grasp, letting them drop to the floor with a clatter and fell to his knees. Artix had lost everything and had gained only one thing: he had learned that “Nobody could be trusted.â€
Sorry...Who Are You?[/align]
Name: Artix Von Creg
Age: 517 (appears to be in his thirties or forties)
Gender: Male
Loyalties: Months of living alone in the human world with nothing but his own memories to keep him company has fashioned Artix into a completely neutral being. Upon returning to Karakura he has no loyalties to any organization, character or ideals other than his own.
[align=center]What Makes Us...Us?[/align]
Height & Weight Six foot four, 240lbs
Hair & Eye Colour
Where once there was a long flowing tail of pure charcoal colored hair Artix's head now has a new look about it. While still long it is significantly shorter than it used to be as it falls scraggly and unkempt to hang just above his shoulders. With an incentive he may desire to take care of it beyond the basic necessities and tie it back once more but as of yet he has no such want. On his travels there were never any available facilities where he could groom himself and he has thus grown accustomed to looking so worse for wear. Little has changed about his infamous eyes; the left eye still holds it's crimson color due to the kido spell that hit him in the face all those years ago. His right eye still remains a sight to behold: the whites have been turned crimson and the deep pit of black that is the iris encircles a blood red pupil. Many people have admitted that it is unnerving to say the least to have Artix's right eye look upon them as it's strange color makes it's stare intense and uncomfortable. As such he hides it away under an eyepatch.
Noticable Difference
Artix's complexion had once been white as snow however his time spent in countries where the sun burns the sands has tanned his porcelain skin. His long period of solitude has called for little use from his eyepatch and as such the tan lines one would think would be caused by the patch do not exist. The eyepatch itself has undergone it's first dramatic change; instead of cloth Artix has chosen a new material: leather, more specifically leather that has been dyed a dirty dark red and has many scratches and scuffs that make it look worn out. Around the edges of the patch there are multiple metal studs that upon first glance make it look as if they used to embed the patch into his face since the patch's straps are thin and usually hidden beneath his hair. In truth they are simply used to keep the outer leather texture and inner comfortable cloth attached to each other.
The face of The Demon King hasn't changed too much over the years. A few wrinkles have been deepened and a few new scars have been collected, these scars now appear more obvious and stand out because of his newly tanned skin. The areas of skin covered by the eyepatch are gnarled and twisted, as if at one point in his life Artix had been the victim of a terrible fire accident. His face itself is very square and edged, his features hardly ever curve and instead end sharply. To top off his rough grizzled look his chin and upper lip have a light shade of a goatee.
If a smile was rare from Artix before it is certainly an occurrence that happens once every blue moon now. Unless angered or frustrated it is usually hard to determine what might be going on within Artix's head, if anything at all. When he does smile however it seems stretched and awkward, almost as if his face isn't used to such an expression.
His body is like that of a man used to hard labor. Very large and muscled accordingly. There really is nothing more to say other than how physically fit and in some cases monstrous he looks. All across his body there are scars, ranging from tiny nicks to huge deep gouges. Most of them are situated around his chest and stomach, much less so around his arms and legs and there are hardly any upon his neck and face. The largest scar he has is a huge burn mark that stretches from his jaw, down to his shoulder, across his chest and stomach before ending at his hip. The mark is thinner at the jaw and grows wider as it progresses downwards, when it reaches his chest it begins to thin out again and ends in a point at his hip.
Since returning to the soul society as fifth division captain under the rule of the Golden Court Artix has once agained donned his shinigami uniform. His shihakusho is unispiring and generic, the only differences that make it stand out from other shinigami would be the multitide of rips and tears along the sleeves, accumulated over years of wear and tear. The ends of the sleeves and legs being jagged and torn.
The fifth division haori however has changed much since he last wore it, or more accurately it has been replaced. The dirty, beaten and torn coat that Artix used to wear and had passed down to his Vice-captain is no more and now he wears an immaculate new haori with only a single imperfection; Artix, not liking the feel of his shihakusho sleeves and haori sleeves layered over each other, has ripped off the sleeves. Exactly how long it's pristine condition will last however cannot be known for certain.
Fashion isn't exactly something Artix takes notice in. As such his gigai is rather simple. Dressing in the latest trends would only draw attention, as a result Artix tries to blend in with clothes that ardent too bright or too dark. This usually consists of a regular buttoned shirt or T-shirt combined with jeans and steel toe capped work boots. The only thing that he wears regularly would be a thin black leather jacket. One particular article of clothing that Artix has become rather fond of would be the cloak that he used to keep his body shielded from the raging sands of the desert. It was once light brown but the color has quickly warped due to use and abuse and now appears to be more grey than brown.
Artix has many accessories, call them good luck charms, mementos, trinkets or whatever. The first being a small locket tied around his neck by a thin golden chain. The locket itself is shaped like a small rectangle with a crease in the middle, looking a lot like an old tattered book. The second item would be a simple silver ring. The surface of the ring is almost always shining with radiance and the only visible engraving upon the silver trinket are the initials of Artix’s name. A.V.C. The final piece of jewelry is certainly an odd one. A key chain attached to his belt that takes the shape of a rose with pink colored petals. Quite an uncharacteristic item for somebody like Artix to own.
Positive Traits
[*:yyv4w5vo] Artix possesses an incredible iron will. Once his mind has been set on something or his belief has been placed into something it will take a substantial amount of effort to shake him from that goal or belief. He isn't oblivious to reason however, if opposed with a way of thinking that he cannot dispute his opinion is more easily changed.
[*:yyv4w5vo] Artix's free thinking attitude is really a matter of perspective as to whether it is a positive or negative trait. Some people believe it to be simple rebellion and disrespect for authority, others see it as an individual making his own thoughts and opinions rather than following the crowd, Artix is of the latter group believing that anybody who is willing to question the views of those in charge or those who have power are ultimately being true to themselves.
[*:yyv4w5vo] Artix has been through many things and has witnessed many more and through all of his experiences he can honestly say that the world isn't as clear as some people believe. Good, evil. Intelligent, stupid. Beautiful, ugly. All of these extremes are simple illusion as there is nothing within any of the worlds that tip to either extreme of the scales. In short Artix is generally open minded about a lot of things and willing to listen to the reasoning and opinions of all.
[*:yyv4w5vo] For years Artix committed terrible crimes almost every day, ranging from petty theft to traumatizing innocent people with his disgusting actions. Since then Artix has devoted his life to atoning for his sins. He doesn't go out of his way to do good as he believes that doing so would be unnatural, instead he takes each opportunity as it comes and treats it accordingly.
[*:yyv4w5vo] When not feeling sorry for himself and when his mind isn't focused on anything inparticular Artix becomes quite a peaceful person. When alone he enjoys the silence and tends to enjoy having something nice to look at in this state to ease his mind. In many ways it is like that of an old man sitting in his rocking chair on the porch under the sun. It is during this time that Artix begins to recall fond memories rather than ones that cause him pain. It is easiest to approach him at these times. It shows that he has the potential to improve upon his anti-social, aggressive self and with effort become an all round better person.
Negative Traits
[*:yyv4w5vo] The most prominent negative trait of Artix would be his anger. While he no longer necessarily has a short fuse, depending upon the situation there are a few things that can cause him to lose his head rather quickly. Some of the things that contribute to this include the person in question and the subject that angered him. In other words, if somebody knows just which buttons to press they can piss him off easily. Negative comments about his younger sister are usually the quickest route to his rage though if used continually even the most insignificant of things can cause him to blow his lid.
[*:yyv4w5vo] This giant of a man lives in the past. Artix is constantly swimming in his own memories and analyzing them from every angle possible, constantly wondering what would have happened if he had done something differently. Constantly wishing that he could go back and change the decision he made. Constantly wishing that his sister was still alive. His frequent voyages into his memories depresses him and makes him bitter and hateful towards himself and others.
[*:yyv4w5vo] Artix is a cynic if ever there was one. Now that his last bastion of selflessness is gone he believes that the only thing that motivates people is self interest. He always questions the motives of everyone he meets wondering exactly what it is that they want from him, he becomes even more wary of people who are kind to him as he believes that it is these people inparticular that are looking to take him for everything he is worth. As such he has chosen to conform to his own belief and will never do anything for another person unless it benefits himself. This has also made him flawed however as there is a small light of hope within him that he mistakes for envy and bitterness when he witnesses or experiences the kindness of others. He wants to believe that there are people who exist that genuinely care for one another but the effects of his past prevent him from doing so.
[*:yyv4w5vo] There is nothing more intense than the recklessness of a man with nothing left to live for. With his new outlook on life this is genuinely what Artix believes, with Rose gone Arty has nothing that he truely cares for, as a result he throws himself into danger without worry or distraction.
[*:yyv4w5vo] He has always been suspicious of everything and everyone to the point of some people calling him paranoid. Artix's reply to such accusations is usually something along the lines of "better safe than sorry." While a person may seem trustworthy and have evidence to back up their sincerity Artix will never truly believe that all of their intentions towards him or his allies are of good will until they have proven themselves before him and even knowing that, there is no quick fix to Artix's trust. As a result Artix has a very very short list of allies that he can depend on when he's in trouble, something that he's going to need upon returning to Karakura.
TMI?:
[*:yyv4w5vo] Combat is a means of releasing all of the pent up stress and aggression that Artix holds onto, it is also something that takes his mind off things and allows him to have fun. This was one of the reasons he became a member of the fifth division and is the reason why he still enjoys fighting to this day whether it be a serious mortal struggle or a friendly match.
[*:yyv4w5vo] Artix enjoy's interacting with humans. They always seem to have a different trick up their sleeve and it is interesting for him to see their strange powers and try to figure out what category their powers are nearest to. Shinigami, arrancar, vizard?
[*:yyv4w5vo] He likes eating, especially sweet things, no matter how much he eats however he never gets fat, a strange ability that never ceases to amaze him. On rare occasions he has eating competitions and tries to see how much he can eat without getting full.
[*:yyv4w5vo] One type of person that Artix likes is a person with an open mind. Somebody who is always willing to question the way things are within reasonable boundaries rather than take everything they know, hear and see as fact.
[*:yyv4w5vo] Artix hates ignorant and close minded people. He hates the fact that these kinds of people cant see whats really going on.
[*:yyv4w5vo] It irks him somewhat when people criticize what they would call his "reckless" fighting techniques. To Artix those people are just incapable of seeing how much such a fighting style pays off. If he had to suffer a minor injury in order to land a huge blow on the enemy he would do it gladly.
[*:yyv4w5vo] His habit of drinking a little too much and flirting with random women as a result can often earn him a slap and if the woman he's flirting with happens to be one of political power who knows what could happen to him.
Personality:
For the longest time Artix believed that being alone was best for him and would keep him safe and prevent the headaches that came with dealing with people, of course that was when there were people around him. Now that he has lived for months in complete solitude he has had the opportunity to think on the benefits of running as a member of a pack rather than a lone wolf and as a result he tends to be more accepting of people who try to interact with him. His lack of trust is still present however he understands the benefits of having allies.
Over time Artix has become more tolerant with those who anger him and while his fuse is still fairly easy to spark it has definitely increased in length. Invoking his wrath depends partly upon the person and the subject being discussed. In other words pressing the right buttons will enrage him quicker. There is one thing about his anger that hasn't changed however and that is just how deep it goes. Artix has collected a constantly bubbling pool of hate and sorrow which only fuels his rage. After a while he no longer becomes angry at the original topic and instead begins to draw his fury from deep within himself; memories, thoughts and feelings. Once he has gone past the point of no return anybody around to witness the destruction will soon understand why they still call him The Demon King.
Artix has never been one for complying with the people in charge simply because of his belief that Leadership is something that needs to be gained. To him, those who are born into power or have it given to them on a silver platter do not deserve such power. Those who forcibly take power are even worse. In his opinion a leader doesn't have to be liked to be effective, as long as they are respected and are exceptional at doing their job with minimal casualties. The ways Artix expresses these feelings however are a little rough around the edges as he ignores orders given to him and in some cases depending upon the person in question may even do the exact opposite of what he has been asked. He isn't afraid to split from the group and achieve a goal by himself if he believes that the group wont be as effective as it could be. As such he tends to come across as confrontational, stubborn, disobedient and rebellious. He tends to react negatively to being told what to do by people he doesn't respect or agree with, even outside of combat situations.
Being a rather relaxed person in his neutral state Artix enjoys sitting outside of the goings on around him, preferring instead to watch events unfold and return to the scene only when he feels ready. While everybody else may be chatting away having a merry time Artix would sit aside in peace. Occasionally a kind hearted soul may perceive Artix as being left out and attempt to draw him into the situation. When he tries to disentangle himself from said person they usually become offended and then Artix gets into the kind of situation he tries to avoid. Of course being a quiet person and being a rather intimidating looking man can cause some people to choose NOT to talk to him and that suits him just fine.
Despite all of this Artix isn't a being lacking in kindness or compassion, his cold and rocky outer shell has formed around him thanks to centuries of hard living. His heart however is far from being a cavernous chasm of ice, it just takes quite a bit of chipping away in order to reach it. As a fellow underdog Artix has a natural affinity for the beaten and the downtrodden, those who are looked down on by their peers, he feels as if he can relate to these kinds of people more than others and thus they will find it a lot easier to gain his trust than say, a noble.
His kinder side is almost like that of an older brother. Watching out for those closest to him and protecting them with everything he has. Once you have broken through Artix’s cold and almost heartless shell and gained his trust and friendship he’s a friend for life and will stand by you until the end. If the time calls for it he would gladly lay his life on the line for his loved ones.
Some of Artix's habits include playing with his necklace when bored, uncomfortable or nervous, thinking too deeply and not listening to what people say and falling asleep at the most inopportune times. His worst habit though is his heavy drinking. Drinking to drown the hate, the memories, the sadness. All of it washed away in alcohol.
[align=center]We...The Fallen Comrades[/align]
Zanpakuto Spirit: Kuroitaiyou. (Black Sun)
Artix's zanpakuto spirit takes the form of a wolf that appears in various sizes, he can be taller than a house or as small as a terrier though there doesn't seem to be any pattern to the varying sizes that he takes. His fur is sleek and mostly flat however it bristle's just around the neck giving him the slight appearance of a small black lion. His eyes contain a calm sea of yellow entwined with brown along the rim of the pupil.
Kuroitaiyou very rarely acts aggressive towards anyone unless the situation demands it. He comes across as a very calm and level headed individual with a well thought out opinion on most things. He makes very analytical observations of situations that require care and precision and enforces an equal amount of detail when witnessing Artix's actions. To Artix Kuroitaiyou is almost like an all knowing being, able to see the consequences of Artix's actions before he even commits them. More often than not he confesses his disappointment in Artix's lack of insight as to what might happen because of what he chose to do. Ultimately however Kuroitaiyou wishes Artix to learn by himself, the think about his own actions and learn from his mistakes Kuroitaiyou exists only to make the process a little easier for him.
Some would call Kuroi Artix's opposite, this isn't true yet they do indeed seem to be two entirely different personality's at all times and they hardly agree with each other.
Sealed Zanpakuto:
The sealed state of Kuroi Taiyou is rather unique in its own way. It has a crimson colored hilt as if stained by the blood that it once held and a dull golden guard. Embedded into the guard is an aborigine styled set of flames that spiral around until they meet the edge of blade. The blade itself is as normal as any other sword shimmering in the light like a reaper carefully draped in a beautiful veil. The sheathe is jet black with a white flame design at the base, the mouth of the sheathe is shaped like a wolf's head the fur spiking downwards as if charging into battle, its jaws wide and bearing its terrible fangs. The blade is inserted into the mouth of the wolf to conceal it.
Shikai Appearance : Immolate, Kuroitaiyou
The weapon that replaces Artix's katana, or rather the weapon it turns into is a European long sword. The hilt of the blade stands at 15cm in length. Two hands would be required to cover three fourths of it. The blade of the sword measures in at 50cm (1.3m) giving the overall blade a rating of 65cm in total. In unison with its large size the weight of the sword (unlike most long swords) is a whole 3kg, rather heavy for a sword of its type.
The basic's of the hilt define a simple piece of metal in the shape of a large letter T. At each end of the guard there is a small wooden ring, the rings face the same way as the flat side of the blade. the pommel of the hilt, which would end with a small ball or some kind of larger shape on traditional European long swords, ends with another metal ring, but this time the ring faces the same way as the blades edge. Through the ring is a smooth wooden stick the same size as the guard giving the hilt the shape of the letter H or I depending on how you look at it.
Around the grip of the hilt is a red fabric, crossing over white like a katana. Something never used for long swords. Attached to the rings on either side of the guard are rusted metal chains. The size of them is rather small about the size of somebody's thumbnail and each chain holds five links.
The blade of the sword is wider than most long swords which are usually only a few inches wider than the hilt. The best way to describe this would be to compare it to the wide blade of a gladius while it still has the length of a long sword, this makes the weapon a rather intimidating object.
The blades design is simple. Just the regular double edged sword ending in as fine a point as possible, although, just above the guard there is a single hole running right through to the other side about the same size as the rim of a shot glass. An indent runs down the middle of the blade, colored red blade while the rest of the blade is a shining steel silver.
Shikai Abilities:
For the first few moments after release Kuroitaiyou remains as it appears in it's long sword form. After a while however it combusts into pitch black flames that burn without light, though they generate a heat so intense that it is difficult to be near them for even a short period of time and touching them instantly scolds. Prolonged periods of time of up to merely a few seconds in physical contact with these flames can cause skin to melt and warp. The flames start off small at first, burning relatively close to the blade and as time passes the fire grows more and more monstrous.
The growing fire is an indication of how much reiatsu is stored within the blade, the black fire is simply the excess reiatsu that the sword can't hold. This is because Artix's immense spiritual energy is constantly flowing into the blade and as mentioned before; being stored. Once enough energy has been stored it can be released in an instant in order to cause an explosion that propels Artix's blade when swung giving his attacks immense strength. Artix himself is immune to his zanpakuto's effects.
Bankai Appearance:
Once the release phrase has been said Artix appears to spontaneously combust in a black inferno and as quickly as it appears it compresses back in towards itself, revealing Artix once more. His leather jacket now sparks, crackles and radiates the same kind of heat that his flames do, essentially it is the fire. Another new addition to Artix's appearance is the blazing ring floating a little over his head. A crown for The Demon King.
The blade changes drastically, being nearly six foot in length. The same as Artix. Its size however adds no contribution to its weight, one would think that such a large sword would be extremely heavy, well to anybody who hasn't wielded Kuroitaiyou it would weigh atleast a few tonnes. To Artix however its like wielding a normal katana, he can move it with precise aim and swiftness. This combined with its deadly long reach make it a vicious weapon.
The handle of the blade is nothing more than a wooden stick wrapped with a white cloth, two wooden prongs sit either side and act as the hilts pommel. The guard is just a metal strip with separate segments all welded together, on either side of the guard sit two large metal rings. Attached to these rings are two lengthy chains made of metal.
The blade itself is the centre of attraction. From the guard upwards it remains straight like any normal blade, the steel that its made from stained jet black apart from the swirling red markings upon the side. But once it reaches the tip it begins to curve outwards into two separate pronged spikes. From the tip of these two spikes the blade curves inwards again and ends with a pointed tip, much like the anchor of a ship. Three holes punctured through the metal hold a triangle formation in the centre of the anchor head blade.
Release phrase : Bankai!! Kuroitaiyou Choshinsei (Black Sun Supernova)
Bankai Ability:
All of these previous factors of Artix's shikai remain the same. There is one more factor that unleashes itself upon the activation of bankai however. Artix has the ability to manipulate the flames as if they were his very own limbs, bearing in mind he can only do this with very simple shapes such as large whips or huge flaming fists, etc. The fiery shapes range from realistic sized (A sword would be the same size as his zanpakuto) To atleast eight foot in size. The larger the blazing object however the more energy Artix needs to use and the less movement ability he would have in his body.
The ability of the bankai is something Artix calls Okibi Furiko (Blazing pendulum):
The flames add a weighted effect to any piece of organic matter it meets by discharging a part of Artix's Spiritual energy (modified to give it a weighted effect) into the opponent, so when the Flames meet an opponent the limb that has been hit becomes a little heavier but not by much only enough to slow the opponent down and make them sluggish. For example if Artix were to hit his opponents arm, the reaction time for that particular arm would be a little slower than the rest of the body. The weight doesn't accumulate after each hit however, Artix must strike all parts of the body in some way for the ability to take full effect, both arms, both legs, torso and head. Apart from dousing the flames with an icy type attack another way to negate the effects is to meet the flames with an attack that has an equal or greater spirit level, this would normally overload the amount of reiatsu burning in the blade and block the flames from burning.
[align=center]Me...The Corrupting Grin[/align]
Inner Hollow:
Artix's inner hollow is the spitting image of himself a few centuries ago when he still resided in Rukongai. The inner hollow is everything that Artix hates about himself and everything he has tried to leave behind rolled into one large and demonic being. The only huge difference between Artix and his inner hollow is the fact that his inner hollow's skin is as white as chalk and his eyes are a shining emerald green just like they had been all those years ago.
His hair is a little shorter, falling over his shoulders but not quite reaching the arch of his back like the real Artix's. His face is somewhat younger and less square although the physical and mental hardship he has been through is still evident. The scars across his body are fewer and further between than Artix's and are less visible against his color devoid skin.
The clothes he wears consist of nothing but rags patched together very loosely and in such a way that makes it seem like they were made by somebody who had no skill in the art of sewing. The shirt is more like a ragged poncho draped over his shoulders hanging down to his thighs. His legs are covered by pants that have small holes in them and are very muddy and torn around the ankles. His feet are bare, as are his hands and face.
Mask Appearance:
Artix's mask is the physical manifestation of what he used to be and is still know as: The Demon King. The mask starts off regular human head sized at the top and becomes thinner and thinner as it progresses down to the chin. The head of the mask is shaped into three separate spikes, two on either side of the head, curving outwards and one in the very middle curving inwards. The two curving outwards are to represent a demons horns, all three spikes together are meant to represent a crown, thus "The demon king."
The eyes of the mask are shaped like pitch black diamonds turned on their sides and slightly tilted to dip downwards. The nose of the mask is barely visible as it becomes so thin but it is attached to the crown and curves downwards through the middle of the eyes and ends in a very fine point in the middle of the face. The mouth of the mask represents Artix's distrustful nature and refusal to say more than a few sentences to strangers. This shows itself as a small set of horrifying skulls teeth at the very front of the mouth while the corners of the mouth are sewn shut. Finally the chin of the mouth is separated into three thinner spikes, this is also to represent "The demon king."
The markings on Artix's mask have meanings all of their own: looking at the eyes one would notice a thick blue line streaking from either one, this shows the tragedy of Artix's life and how much it has grieved him in the past. If one starts at the middle chin point however and follows the line up they would see that it spreads out in three directions at it rises, this represents how far Artix has come in his life. He has made it through the worst the world can offer and has ascended to better things, thus broadening his outlook on life.
The method that Artix uses to don his mask is rather effective. He covers his face with his arm and takes hold of his eyepatch with one hand. He then tears the patch from his face and as his arm moves away from his head the mask appears in a trail of black fire that follows his eyepatch and his fingers. Since the eyeholes of the mask are constantly pitch black, all one would be able to see would be two extremely intimidating red dots, glowing in the darkness as eyes.
Mask Abilities:
The ability of Artix's mask is to release an extremely heavy shockwave every time his blade hits something. If his blade should connect with the enemies sword then the shockwave would vibrate not only through the air, forcing the opponent back but also down the sword and into the opponent themselves, disorienting them. It may cause slight vision problems and hearing problems as well the ability to move, E.G., blurred image, muffled sounds, wobbly movements so nothing too drastic.
The shockwave also emits a sheet of sound wave depressant reiatsu. Like a black and white movie. Anything the opponent says or does will not give off any sound at all. This limits the use of kido and other techniques that require an incantation.
Inner world:
Artix's inner world is a strange one, As it changes depending on his mood. For example if Artix were angry then his inner world would be something along the lines of though not limited to a huge volcano erupting ferociously. If he is calm and collected however it may be a quiet woodland or meadow. However no matter how much it changes it all has something in common: they are all bases of nature reflect the base emotions that Artix experiences. Never will you see a building, skyscraper, car or anything articifial for that matter in Artix's inner world.
Depending upon the state of the world the noises around Artix reflect the world itself, animal noises, wind, etc. The strange thing about the noises though is that the source of them is never visible if it should come from an organic being. For example in a rainforest one would expect to see birds, insects, mammals and the like. In Artix's world one would hear all of these things and see vague figures in the distance, though any clear image of an animal other than Kuroitaiyou is impossible to catch.
[align=center]FLASHBACK[/align]
Background:
Sacrificing a family:
As a member of a poor family in the sixteenth century Artix didn't exactly live a life of luxury. He was loved by his mother and his younger sister and in turn he loved them, though he had always had problems when dealing with his father. All of the arguments in the house were caused because of Artix and his father's frequent disputes. Both of them had trouble controlling their tempers and it was only with the unique mediating skills of his mother that Artix and his father's arguments never came to blows. That wasn't the extent of the families problems however. They were riddled in debt. For whatever reason Artix's father owed a lot of people a lot of money, money that they simply could not repay. It wasn't known by Artix's mother exactly how much money was owed and both Arty and his sister were blissfully oblivious of the debt. But they had done well for years and his father assured that the money was being repaid slowly and regularly so they had nothing to worry about.
He lied.
Out of the blue the house was raided. Artix's father met the invaders at the door of the house while Artix, his sister Rose and his mother hid themselves away. The sounds of the scuffle was clear. Men yelling, items and furniture being knocked over. It was futile. They were all found and dragged by the hair or by the arm in Artix's case into the largest room in the house; the dining room. All three of them were lined up in front of Artix's father. Blood decorated one of the walls and a pool of the copper tasting liquid began to collect around his mothers body. The blade extracted from her chest. Arty and Rose wailed and screamed, tears pouring down their cheeks. His father begged them to stop. Tried to convince them that he could get the money. More blood and the life in Rose's eyes faded away. Before giving the man his final punishment for not repaying them on time they explained why they were doing what they were doing. Artix learned of it all. He felt the hate welling up inside of himself, rising. They talked maliciously, they wanted their "Client" to suffer. As they prolonged Artix's death all he could do was stare at his father as he shook with fury. It boiled. It burned his insides. It scorched his blood.
He stared directly into his fathers watery eyes with his blazing green one's. He seemed to stare at Artix as if to say "I'm sorry" and that threw Artix over the edge. The maturing teenage boy roared as he forced himself out of his captors grasp, grabbed one of the invaders swords in their shock and swung it down. A sword was plunged through his back, piercing his heart and slid out of his chest. Artix clung to life for those last few moments as blood poured down his body, looking at the scene before him. The sword in his hand was lodged in the head of his own father. He didn't mean to...He didn't want to...He just blacked out. The sword was taken from within his body and he fell forwards onto his fathers corpse. The debt had been repayed.
Fooled, robbed and betrayed:
Artix upon entering the soul society had lost all memory of his human life. His mother was nothing but a huge smear of different colors. His sister was simply a pair of watery crystal blue eyes followed by a huge blot of crimson. The face of his father with that blade carved into his brain was burned clearly into his mind though. Not having any knowledge of who it was or what it was scared Artix and he tried not to think about it. But the nightmares he couldn't prevent.
Artix had really drawn the short straw as he passed through the soul check in counter of the soul society. He had been informed that he was going to be sent into one of the many districts of rukongai, they were numbered one to eighty with eighty being the worst. The worst in what however Artix had no clue. A small slip of paper had been handed to him by a man dressed in black and sporting a rather dangerous looking katana. The paper read “district 78, rukongai†and in an instant he was carted off like some kind of unwanted refugee.
The next thing he knew he had been thrown through a huge pair of wooden gates barred with iron bolts and reinforced with steel to prevent escape. The moment Artix’s teenage body thudded down onto the dusty dirt road the gates had shut and sealed themselves. He was alone. Looking around at the broken buildings and defaced landscape Artix could tell that living here would definitely be tough. His first thought was to find shelter and plan his next action and so finding a small run down warehouse with nothing but a few crates and a flea bitten mattress he settled down and calmed his nerves with sleep.
Days, weeks, maybe even months passed and Artix still hadn't seen a single soul. He didn't dare move from the entrance to the 78th district fearing what he might meet if he ventured in too far. Upon returning home from his daily patrol of the area, attempting to find any signs of life he was shocked to see a girl around the same age as he, sleeping on his mattress. She lay on her stomach with her eyes closed and her head facing towards him resting upon her arms.
Her slick shadowed hair was tied into two ponytails, each one sprouting from either side of her head. She had the body of a perfect slender sixteen year old, limbs sprawled out upon the mangy mattress. She was clothed in a dirty white rag which Artix presumed was once a posh dress gown however the frills had been torn away and worn with use and there were occasional rips or tears in the dress. Her smooth blot less skin was a darkened ebony color, her face smudged with dirt and a few cuts and bruises here and there. Despite this however she seemed quite beautiful as the shape of her head was heart like, rounding slightly as it came to her chin. Her cheeks were elated with a slight plumpness. Small, petite lips held in a tiny “o†formation as she slept, a light drizzle of drool hanging from the corner of her mouth.
An hour passed as Artix sat with his back against the cold stone wall simply staring at the ebony skinned girl in front of him. How long had it been since he had seen another person, he no longer felt like he had been abandoned, he no longer felt alone. After months of living on his own and wandering the streets aimlessly, slowly losing himself and becoming a hollow shell this beautiful young girl came out of nowhere and rescued him from the darkness. A flicker of long black eyelashes and a light drowsy groan escaped from the young woman as she began to rise from her peaceful slumber.
She sat herself upright, leaning on her left arm and rubbing the dust from her eye’s with the other, since she was lying on her stomach Artix hadn't really noticed it but her chest was plump and rather impressive for a mere sixteen year old. “HEY!! Pervert, those aint the orbs you should be lookin’ at†the girls voice brought Artix to his senses, she sounded light and majestic apart from the aggressive undertone that she chose to adorn however a good point of her was that she had the same English accent as Artix.
“I-im sorry†Artix stammered as he averted his gaze towards the girls eyes and surprisingly he was drawn in by them. They were golden and seemed to resonate with a ferocious yet inspiring aura, something that made him feel like he could continue and conquer his new life in the slums. “Nah, its awright after all it aint everyday a lil spit fuck like you gets to see a wonderfully pretty girl like me.†Her tone of voice and the way she talked was extremely crude, then again it was expected from somebody who lived life on the streets.
“Wots your name ?â€
“E-excuse me ?â€
“Well I cant keep callin’ ya spit fuck for the rest of your afterlife can I?â€
“My names Artix.â€
“Mines Aldestinaâ€
Even though this strange girl was rather rude and spoke with little care for what other people thought of her, something about her seemed to strike Artix. Despite having only just met she was incredibly friendly and didn't really seem like a bad person, her outgoing attitude acted as a beacon of guidance to the shy and silent Artix. She was somebody he could easily count on. They had spent the rest of the day conversing and Artix explained his situation of being alone in a place entirely unfamiliar with no memories of his past life and only a few trinkets to ponder over. Aldestina only answered with small nods and the odd rise of one of her thin dark eyebrows.
Not long after Aldestina had told Artix about another building not too far from their current location inhabited by a small gang of teenager’s who only want to be able to live easily and not in fear of everything else around them. To Artix this seemed like a good idea, a whole gang of other kids with the exact same idea as him and there was safety in numbers. As soon as they were ready the two ventured deeper into the 78th district, moving as fast as they could to avoid conflict with the other menacing residence that gave them sinister glares as they passed by. “Make no eye contact and don't even ‘fink about stopping†Aldestina instructed Artix with such seriousness he didn't even dare look at her.
One minute Artix was staring down a deserted high road, dead fields on either side complete with a withered tree, the sky growing dark and daunting. The next he found himself in complete darkness as he stumbled to the side. “Welcome to my humble abode†came a sly voice, Artix whipped his head around but it was hard to see anything through the darkness. “Now that your here, we shall have to kill y-OW!!†a few scuffling noises and then finally a huge thud followed by Aldestinas voice. “Clown you jackass, he's with me!!†she scolded and slowly the lights flickered and Artix’s eyes were invaded painfully forcing him to squint.
Three faces were all staring in his direction with warm and comforting expressions. Aldestina was standing over a rather lanky looking boy with her fist raised, a huge red mark had been smacked onto the boy’s face. “I told ya not to pull that crap†she warned before returning to her usual straight backed posture. Suddenly voices began to whisper amongst themselves and talk as if Artix wasn't even present.
“Who the hells that guy ?â€
“He doesn't look like muchâ€
“Hey Grimm what do you think of him ?â€
“I couldn't care lessâ€
“I wonder if he can cook a decent mealâ€
“What are you saying about my cooking!!â€
“SHADDAP!!!†Aldestina bellowed and instantly everybody fell silent, clearly she was the alpha wolf in this pack. “This is Artix, hes a new addition to our group so hit the dance floor and ill introduce ya†she added and right away there were three people standing in front of him, all of which came from different directions as if they were scattered and hiding like rats.
Aldestina had stepped away from her previous spot and stood directly beside the young man she had previously punched in the jaw. She introduced each and every one of them, permitting them to say a little bit about themselves and shake Artix's hand. It couldn't have been better, Artix was happier than he had ever been since coming to the soul society, he had found a small group of kids just like him who had been tossed into this world without a second glance.
A few years passed and finally Artix had gained his own nickname in the team. “Silent King†as he didn't talk much and the only response you’d ever receive from him would be a small nod of hum of understanding. It was his job in the group to gather resources, which meant he had to steal from local street vendors in order to provide the things they needed to survive. Over the years they had accumulated a large amount of treasures and provisions and things couldn't be any better. But naturally nothing good ever lasts.
Artix’s latest score had been a small golden statue of a dragon and a bag of apples. He rushed home to introduce his new treasure to the other guys, he flung himself through the warehouse doors. All he was greeted by was the soft whistling of the wind blowing through a desolate and deserted floor space. He attempted calling out, but no reply came. He searched the warehouse and the surrounding area but none of them were in sight, not even those of the group who rarely left the warehouse. Upon searching the storage crates he found that they had been stripped bare, all of the silver and golden valuables he had collected over the years had been stolen by none other than his own friends. How could he be so stupid. The districts of rukongai were numbered with the highest being the worst for a reason. They were filled with hoodlums, murderers and most of all traitors. He released the bag and the dragon from his grasp, letting them drop to the floor with a clatter and fell to his knees. Artix had lost everything and had gained only one thing: he had learned that “Nobody could be trusted.â€
