Post by Alain Merrick on Jan 29, 2018 21:27:54 GMT -5
Current Base GP: 2400
Legendary Thread: Who Is Isaac Dean?
Last LC Request: N/A
What's the Setup?
For over a century, Alain Merrick lived peacefully in the Ninth District with his surrogate mother, Josephine O’Connor. Then tragedy struck in the form of an unknown illness that swept through a small segment of the Rukongai population. The Irish born O’Connor was one of the unlucky few to be affected. Although the disease was always fatal, Merrick was unwilling to accept the eventual outcome. While his mother slowly deteriorated over the next ten years, Merrick made numerous forays into the Rukongai to learn and study medicine in his attempt to save her. Alas, he was unsuccessful and his mother eventually succumbed to the mysterious ailment. In the three decades that followed, the young man continued his medical studies, eventually joining the ranks of the Gotei to gain access to their kaido knowledge.
While working in the Seireitei Hospital, he came across reports indicating that the mysterious illness had struck again. Upon investigating, he was attacked and nearly killed by a cloaked and hooded assailant. Rescued by fellow Shinigami, he was beset by a number of questions while recovering from the attack. Who was the perpetrator? Why had he been targeted? Why was a seemingly random home burned down? What happened to the bodies? For the first time, Merrick had been given reason to question the circumstances of his mother’s death. Ever since that fateful evening in the Rukongai, he has tried to solve the mystery.
During the next year, Merrick would be attacked multiple times by the Cloaked and Hooded figure. Regrettably, they always escaped. Nevertheless, inroads had been made in his investigation. The identity of his attacker is known, Amara Naren, former Shinigami of Fifth Division. He has also learned that she’s part of a small organization which appears to be in conflict with the various spiritual factions. Finally, he has come into possession of documents detailing names, dates, times and places. Alain suspects that it lists members of Amara’s group, potential recruits, facilities and meetings places.
Isaac Dean was one of the names in the file. Merrick knew the date, time and location where the man was supposed to be. If he wanted to learn more about Amara and her organization, then capturing and interrogating Dean was a good next step towards bringing down his mother’s killers. Like clockwork, Isaac appeared just as his information had suggested. Merrick then tracked him to a brief clandestine meeting. Due to the presence of an unknown second party, the Shinigami was forced to wait for his opportunity to grab the man. After the exchange concluded, both men went their separate ways. Twenty minutes later, Dean had driven to an abandoned warehouse. Dropping through a roof access window, Alain finally had the man alone. What he didn’t account for was the second Quincy who had been shadowing him.
How is this Legendary?
More than anything, Merrick wants to solve the murder of his mother and make the guilty parties pay for their crime. The last forty years of his life have been dedicated to this pursuit. This has been a lengthy process because he still doesn’t know everyone involved. Even so, he has never doubted he would accomplish his task. Maybe it will take longer than expected, but he believes as long as he keeps plugging away at his investigation day by day, he will succeed. At the same time, Alain is a private individual and this is an intensely personal matter. He has a debt to pay to Josephine and outside help would prevent this.
In the confrontation with Quincy Rick Rogers, Merrick is presented with the potential realization that his life’s ambition might be unattainable. Though a modest individual and by no means a savant of the martial arts, his last year had been a string of combat successes. As a result, being forced to retreat by some random Quincy, was a blow to his confidence. More importantly than the lost confidence, was the scenario. It had been a simple one versus one altercation. If Alain was incapable of handling a lone opponent, then how would he be able to contend with Amara’s group and her superior.
This incident has left Merrick contemplating the concept of need. In the back of his mind, greater power was always something to consider. However, it never reached the height of necessity. Rick Rogers made it apparent that Alain isn’t good enough to make his dreams a reality in his current state. The Shinigami needs to take that next step in his evolution (Bankai) in order to have any chance at defeating his enemies which are numerous and likely more powerful. Next, he possesses a passive and peaceful mindset. There’s a time and place for said demeanor, but combat isn’t one of them. Somehow, he needs to alter what has been intrinsic nature. Finally, it may simply be impossible to achieve his goals alone. He needs allies but how can he trust after so long on his own and who can he trust. These are just a few of the issues which arose from his defeat and have to be resolved.
Legendary Thread: Who Is Isaac Dean?
Last LC Request: N/A
What's the Setup?
For over a century, Alain Merrick lived peacefully in the Ninth District with his surrogate mother, Josephine O’Connor. Then tragedy struck in the form of an unknown illness that swept through a small segment of the Rukongai population. The Irish born O’Connor was one of the unlucky few to be affected. Although the disease was always fatal, Merrick was unwilling to accept the eventual outcome. While his mother slowly deteriorated over the next ten years, Merrick made numerous forays into the Rukongai to learn and study medicine in his attempt to save her. Alas, he was unsuccessful and his mother eventually succumbed to the mysterious ailment. In the three decades that followed, the young man continued his medical studies, eventually joining the ranks of the Gotei to gain access to their kaido knowledge.
While working in the Seireitei Hospital, he came across reports indicating that the mysterious illness had struck again. Upon investigating, he was attacked and nearly killed by a cloaked and hooded assailant. Rescued by fellow Shinigami, he was beset by a number of questions while recovering from the attack. Who was the perpetrator? Why had he been targeted? Why was a seemingly random home burned down? What happened to the bodies? For the first time, Merrick had been given reason to question the circumstances of his mother’s death. Ever since that fateful evening in the Rukongai, he has tried to solve the mystery.
During the next year, Merrick would be attacked multiple times by the Cloaked and Hooded figure. Regrettably, they always escaped. Nevertheless, inroads had been made in his investigation. The identity of his attacker is known, Amara Naren, former Shinigami of Fifth Division. He has also learned that she’s part of a small organization which appears to be in conflict with the various spiritual factions. Finally, he has come into possession of documents detailing names, dates, times and places. Alain suspects that it lists members of Amara’s group, potential recruits, facilities and meetings places.
Isaac Dean was one of the names in the file. Merrick knew the date, time and location where the man was supposed to be. If he wanted to learn more about Amara and her organization, then capturing and interrogating Dean was a good next step towards bringing down his mother’s killers. Like clockwork, Isaac appeared just as his information had suggested. Merrick then tracked him to a brief clandestine meeting. Due to the presence of an unknown second party, the Shinigami was forced to wait for his opportunity to grab the man. After the exchange concluded, both men went their separate ways. Twenty minutes later, Dean had driven to an abandoned warehouse. Dropping through a roof access window, Alain finally had the man alone. What he didn’t account for was the second Quincy who had been shadowing him.
How is this Legendary?
More than anything, Merrick wants to solve the murder of his mother and make the guilty parties pay for their crime. The last forty years of his life have been dedicated to this pursuit. This has been a lengthy process because he still doesn’t know everyone involved. Even so, he has never doubted he would accomplish his task. Maybe it will take longer than expected, but he believes as long as he keeps plugging away at his investigation day by day, he will succeed. At the same time, Alain is a private individual and this is an intensely personal matter. He has a debt to pay to Josephine and outside help would prevent this.
In the confrontation with Quincy Rick Rogers, Merrick is presented with the potential realization that his life’s ambition might be unattainable. Though a modest individual and by no means a savant of the martial arts, his last year had been a string of combat successes. As a result, being forced to retreat by some random Quincy, was a blow to his confidence. More importantly than the lost confidence, was the scenario. It had been a simple one versus one altercation. If Alain was incapable of handling a lone opponent, then how would he be able to contend with Amara’s group and her superior.
This incident has left Merrick contemplating the concept of need. In the back of his mind, greater power was always something to consider. However, it never reached the height of necessity. Rick Rogers made it apparent that Alain isn’t good enough to make his dreams a reality in his current state. The Shinigami needs to take that next step in his evolution (Bankai) in order to have any chance at defeating his enemies which are numerous and likely more powerful. Next, he possesses a passive and peaceful mindset. There’s a time and place for said demeanor, but combat isn’t one of them. Somehow, he needs to alter what has been intrinsic nature. Finally, it may simply be impossible to achieve his goals alone. He needs allies but how can he trust after so long on his own and who can he trust. These are just a few of the issues which arose from his defeat and have to be resolved.
