Introduction The journey of the soul is one of both purification and unification. Transcendentals are beings that have gone beyond the confines of any race and become the purest form of their humanity. It is for this reason that they are no longer Hollow, Shinigami, or Mortal and share none of the same defining traits.
As they emerge into their new state of being they gain mastery and command over an aspect of reality, the Concept, and begin to recall some of the skills and abilities that may have defined their previous life. In time, their new state of being will allow them to take those skills to heights they never could have imagined in their previous existence.
Concepts are a unique aspect of the wielder encompassed by a singular word. This powerful idea is deeply tied to the personality and history of the Transcendental and is defined by the writer as part of their request. Although the word itself may have limitless potential, the ability of the Transcendental to apply it is limited by their experiences and enlightenment. The character’s specific level of enlightenment, their understanding of the subject, and a myriad of other factors are vital parts of understanding how to wield this extremely potent tool.
Perhaps, as no surprise, Transcendentals are very much at peace as individuals. Oftentimes, this inner calm can come across as detachment or a sense of aloofness towards the plight of their former race and the world at large. While this is certainly not true for all Transcendentals, many of them do wear a shade of indifference towards the ‘minor’ problems most others face day by day. Their higher state of being and their journey to enlightenment has granted them the perspective needed to understand that suffering is sometimes necessary for growth.
The Role of Transcendentals
Transcendents may be best described as stewards to the way the universe is intended to function. It is their duty to protect humanity's future, and thus ensure their potential. As such, conditions in which they are compelled to appear or decide to act are either quite specific, or in response to dire circumstances. One such example could be a Transcendent present in the BCE years who noticed the early development of gunpowder. Using their insight, they would be able to see the dire ramifications of unlocking this knowledge so early in the history of humanity and be able to steer events away from the chaos it might bring. Such as by orchestrating a convenient fire in the library in which the formula is stored.
More severe examples may include an individual or a group who devises a way to permanently scar the Dangai and prevent travel between the three worlds. In this case, Transcendents may interfere to warn and prepare those trying to thwart these efforts, and directly confront the offenders should all other efforts fail.
Beyond these greater responsibilities, some Transcendents may continue to maintain relationships with members of various races and continue an interest in their lives. Even though they have resolved the inner conflict, they are still grown from the same soul as any other human and may want to partake in conversations, hobbies, and other interests like anyone else. Unlike others, the unique perspective of a Transcendent can cause a great deal of difficulty in maintaining the closeness of these relationships with members of lesser races.
However among their own kind, Transcendents function as both students and teachers in a setting best compared to a university. This place is known as the 'Transcendental Realm' and is reachable only by a Transcendent. Here, each member acts as a professor to the others with an area of expertise in their Concept. With this specialty, they look upon humanity for ways in which their help might be needed to maintain the natural order. Each of them will learn from one another, exposing themselves to the wisdom involved in countless other Concepts of Reality, and in turn they will teach others about their own domain.
Broken Transcendentals To have come so far and gotten so close to the final door to enlightenment, Broken Transcendentals come to reject the idea of inner peace in the very core of their being. Instead of letting go of their one, overriding issue, this special group chooses to embrace the turmoil within them and refines it into a truly terrifying potential. Unlike their counterparts, Broken often slide towards emotional and mental instability or worse, slowly driven mad by their dissonant nature.
Similar to their Transcendental counterparts, Broken develop their own Concept which embodies their journey and experience, although the flavor of this aspect usually takes a decidedly more traumatic turn. While their particular type of Concept of Reality can be just as potent as a Transcendental's, Broken do not gain many of the other benefits and are also much closer to their former race than a Transcendent would be, despite the new form.
Transcendent Compendium (Transcendents) or Custom Casting Skill (Broken Transcendents)
Legacy Skill #1 - #3
Custom Skill
Custom Skill
Concept of Reality While a Transcendent can always call upon their Concept for personal use, if they intend to affect the world at large or others around them then they will have to reveal their Transcendent Form. Reality itself bends to accommodate the power available to this state, and this action does take time to complete.
A Transcendent has access to a +150 Reiatsu Release Bonus while in this form, and Broken Transcendent benefit from a +120 Release Bonus. While in Transcendent form, the character is no longer subject to any Reiatsu, Stat, or Skill Caps, however, Caps apply regularly to Broken Transcendents.
Transcendentals and Broken Transcendentals are a literal embodiment of their Concept of Reality, and as such 'learning to use it' is a very abstract term. For Transcendents, their Concept of Reality functions at its full power immediately after being unlocked with a one-time purchase of 1,200 GP. Mechanically, this skill has no 'rank', as it is a fundamental underpinning of reality. While one person may be able to manipulate fire, it is possible for a Transcendental to actually be fire. Since the Concept does not follow a normal skill's progression, it might instead be portrayed that the Transcendent is learning to wield it more cleverly, or learning how the Concept interacts with the world around them that is not under their purview.
Broken Transcendents are automatically granted their False Concept of Reality at Master Rank, and can raise this skill to Grandmaster via Request. However, since the conclusions and realizations they have reached are fundamentally against the natural order, their False Concept can never reach Transcendent Rank.
Transcendent Compendium Tapping into the societal nature of Transcendents, the Compendium skill represents an understanding how to weave together other Concepts of Reality wielded by their co-workers. While they can never command another Concept as well as they could their own, all Transcendents are capable of manipulating other aspects at a basic level.
A new Transcendent may only be exposed to a very small number of other Concepts and is only capable of using one at a time, with a great deal of effort. By the time they approach Expert, their efforts take significantly less focus and are even capable of blending up to two other Concepts together in the same action.
Masters and Grandmasters of this skill can combine three and four other Concepts respectively into the same effort, seamlessly tapping into the vast knowledge they have acquired from their study and experience.
Legacy Skills These are highly personal manifestations based on the former life of the character. A Shinigami who favored Hado may carry that on as a Legacy Skill, or an Arrancar famed for the strength of their Hierro.
While it is possible this skill may be tied to an old release or an old power, Legacy Skills never confer a Release Bonus. Furthermore, while it may be a signature unique to an old race, it is tied to them as a person rather than their identity as that race. To this end, the form the skill takes is not bound by ‘traditional’ racial wording. If the skill is close enough in function, the wielder may retain previous ranks or Mastery without an additional request.
Broken Transcendental Skill Broken use the same loadout as Transcendents, except do not have access to Transcendent Compendium and instead gain a Custom Casting Skill of their own design.
Transcendental Masteries To accurately reflect the raw power wielded by a Transcendental, all characters of this class may increase any of their skills to Master rank without a Request. If the skill was at Master or Grandmaster rank already, it may be increased by one additional rank without a Request.
Last Edit: Jun 15, 2016 9:12:01 GMT -5 by Consequence
The Broken Transcendentals Riko Suzumei as Fate, the First Broken Transcendental; currently missing Hikari Miyazaki as Time, the Second Broken Transcendental; now deceased Tenko and Kirishi as Nothing, the Third Broken Transcendental; has since become Hope Umi Jomyaku as Hatred, the Fourth Broken Transcendental; currently missing Amaya Kidachi as Severance, the Fifth Broken Transcendental; now deceased Chinda Kiriko as Penance, the Sixth Broken Transcendental, has since become Fulfillment Erasmus Mei as Obsession, the Seventh Broken Transcendental