Characters, Terms, Concepts, Etc. for forum fic.

10/11/2009:

Soul Society - When people die, their souls leave their bodies and eventually make their way to a place called Soul Society. This is kind of like "passing on" to a greater world, so to speak. In Bleach, Soul Society is like Heaven, where good souls (called Wholes) go, while there is another world similar to Hell.

http://aozoratheprincess.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/soul_society.jpg

Soul Reapers - Soul Reapers are the spiritual guardians of Soul Society. Their job is to help Wholes find peace and make their way to Soul Society from the World of the Living, while fending off attacks from monsters called Hollows. In Bleach, their uniforms consist of a black kimono, while my fanfiction (which takes place in an American Soul Society rather than a Japanese one like in Bleach) has the Soul Reaper uniform as a pair of black pants (or a skirt, depending on preference) and a white, sleeved shirt with a collar. A thin, black t-shirt is worn over this shirt to provide the Soul Reapers' traditional black outfit feel.

Hollows - Hollows are evil souls that are basically the opposite of Wholes. Hollows are signified by a large hole in their chests that represents their heartlessness, in addition to the large white masks that cover their entire heads. Hollows often have yellow eyes behind their masks and large mouths that allow for the eating of Wholes, Soul Reapers, or even other Hollows. Hollows live in the world of Hueco Mundo, somewhat synonymous with the world of Hell.

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Zanpakutou - The main weapon of the Soul Reapers. When a Soul Reaper defeats a Hollow with his/her Zanpakutou, the Hollow's soul is cleansed, allowing it to return to the World of the Living as a new life. Each Soul Reaper's Zanpakutou has its own name and personality based on the Soul Reaper that owns it, but can only communicate with its individual Soul Reaper after years of time training and practicing. When a Soul Reaper learns his/her Zanpakutou's name, the Soul Reaper can give a release command, followed by the sword's name, to transform the weapon into its first release, or Shikai, state. All Zanpakutou are defaultly standard katana, but change forms in accordance to their owners when released.

http://www.stiftergym.at/schueler/websites2003-2004/eckmaier/images/katana.jpg

10/20/2009:

Kendo - This is the default fighting style of pretty much all Soul Reapers. This style of fighting involves placing both hands on the handle of one's katana, with the dominating hand on top of the other.

Kidou - These are the spells that Soul Reapers use. Kidou have two different types: Hadou and Bakudou. Hadou, or "the way of binding," spells are used to subdue enemies, while Bakudou, or "the way of destruction," techniques are used to defeat enemies. Soul Reapers start learning the lowest levels (#s) of Kidou spells, so #1 would be first to learn. Kidou spells can only be used with an incantation, often long and difficult to memorize, providing the reasoning why Soul Reapers more often than not fight with standard swordplay over Kidou spells.

10/21/2009:

Soul Reaper Academy - This is obviously school for Soul Reapers. They are instructed here to learn basic sword fighting styles and basic kidou. They also learn the logical basics of battle, along with many other things here. After graduating, they are placed somewhere among the thirteen squads.

Seated Officers - After graduating, students can make into the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, where they become full-fledged Soul Reapers with their own Zanpakutou. If one excels enough in their own respective squad, they can become a seated officer of that squad, often enabling them to higher status in Soul Society. Higher status, however, often requires more paperwork to do for one's squad. Each squad has ten seats, the second of which being the squad's lieutenant, and the first of which being the squad's captain.

10/26/2009:

Zanjutsu - This is the actual name for any style of sword fighting that Soul Reapers use. Kendo is the default style, but is only one of many different ways of sword-based fighting that Soul Reapers can use, as Hunter demonstrates with his back-handed style.

Hakuda - This is the name for the classification of any hand to hand based attacks that Soul Reapers use. More often than not, however, these close quarters combat tactics are used only in Squad Two, or the Secret Ops. Unlike zanjutsu, however, techniques can be developed for hakuda based moves that do not involve a Zanpakutou release.

Hyouhou - After Kidou, Hyouhou is the fourth and last style of fighting that Soul Reapers use. Hyouhou, or the stepping method, is centered around the use of one high-speed skill called shunpo, or simply flash step in English. Flash step involves concentrating spirit energy into one's feet and legs to move at high enough speeds that allow them to "flash" from one location to another, allowing access to speedier travel and fast paced combat.

11/2/2009:

Now for some normal Soul Reaper terms!

Gigai - These are "fake bodies" that Soul Reapers use when stationed in the living world. These are to blend in with living people, while being able to be seen by everyone, not just those that are spiritually sensitive to supernatural energies, as Soul Reapers and Hollows alike cannot be seen by normal humans, since they're made entirely of spirit particles. Ryan uses one of these in Episode Seven. Since Soul Reapers do not age, gigai are made to look identical to their Soul Reapers, but do not age either.

Senkaimon - These are doors created to bridge Soul Society and the world of the living. They're made by Soul Reapers when they stab their swords perfectly straight into the air and turn them like a key, but, like any technique, they can go horribly wrong, as Jason demonstrates. They normally look like black, sliding double doors that automatically open, but their windows are tinted so you can't see either realm on the other side.

The Gotei 13 - For those familiar with Bleach, this is the group of Soul Reapers that are the main protagonists in Bleach. They are based in the Seretei, a large collection of buildings and barracks very similar to our own SRHQ, but theirs is in Soul Society's Japan, while ours is in America. They were founded approximately two thousand years ago by a man named Genryuusai Yamamoto, who became the head captain or captain commander of the Gotei 13.

The Thirteen Court Guard Squads - This is the group of Soul Reapers that resides over the North American region of Soul Society, at least in America. They've been around for only five hundred years, and were co-founded between Captain Commander Yamamoto from Japan and Chief Captain Yuma from America. If it wasn't obvious, there are thirteen squads of Soul Reapers, each with one captain, one lieutenant, and numerous seated officers. Some squads may have particular specialties, while others don't. Yuma is now the chief captain (captain commander) of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.

12/2/2009:

I'm going to take this opportunity to describe some of the squads now. Some squads perform special tasks and duties, while others have no particular specialty at all.

• First Squad: This is the head captain or captain commander's squad. They're often handling the most high-priority or classified of tasks.
  
• Second Squad: This is the Stealth Force that Hunter, Joey, and Lieutenant Speers belong to. They prioritize in destroying targets considered threats to Soul Society, mainly using flash steps, close quarters combat, or assassination-like moves.
  
• Fourth Squad: This is the medical squad that Ben belongs to. Occasionally, one medic will be assigned to another squad. It's obvious that they're duties are provide medical treatment for all Soul Reapers.
  
• Seventh Squad: This squad has no special duties, but it should be noted that Dylan and Ben (4th squad medic) are both assigned here. The previous captain, lieutenant, and third seat are all believed to be dead. The captain is Matthew Sheppard.
  
• Ninth Squad: Again, this squad has no special tasks or jobs, but this should be known for being the squad that Ryan, in addition to his female posse, and Kassandra are both placed in, working under Peter Andrews.
  
• Tenth Squad: Another squad with no real specialties. This squad is led by Captain Isaac Gloritine, who commands Jason, Kendra, and many other Soul Reapers.
  

Since Squads Eleven, Twelve, and Thirteen are going to be shown more in Episode 13, I'm going to hold off on talking about them until later.

And this will finish up the squad introductions!

• Eleventh Squad: This squad isn't assigned any real specialties, but it should be known that it's tradition among Squad Eleven to enjoy combat, and relish in a good fight. Captain Joshua Gloritine, as well as Ivan, live up to this mantra quite well, but Weeber detests it.
  
• Twelfth Squad: This squad is in charge of all research and technological developments in the Soul Society, and is therefore in charge of all machinery, like the cable cars used for transportation or the nanobots used for surveillance. Its captain appears to be inhuman in some way, and Aiden works under him as his new lieutenant.
  
• Thirteenth Squad: This squad is in charge of all investigations and non-combat field activity in the Soul Society, besides technological or medical research. This is the squad that will investigate rumors, complaints, reports, and even criminal cases.
  

1/31/2010:

Now for the Hollows of the Bleach universe:

Menos Grande: These are Hollows that have lost the ability to use the human souls they were once made of to sustain their shape. They then consume other Hollows until they've amassed together in a form created from the grand total of many, many Hollows. They have three classes: Gillians, Adjuchas (pronounced Ad-hoo-chus), and Vasto Lordes.

Gillians: Gillians are the weakest of Menos Grande level Hollows, but they are still far more powerful than normal Hollows. Gillians are known for their mindless appearance and stupendous height, equivalent to multi-storied buildings. They are slow and lack intelligence, but they are capable of firing a Cero blast, a large concentration of spirit energy that shoots like a beam out of the creature's mouth. Soul Reaper Lieutenants are easily capable of taking them down, but when one of the many Hollows inside a Gillian begins to take control and a mind for its own, it may continue to feed on other Hollows and grow into an Adjuchas class.

http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/bleach/en/images/thumb/5/53/Gillians.jpg/190px-Gillians.jpg

Adjuchas:

The second level of Menos, Adjuchas have the strength to rival Lieutenants and potentially even some captains. They are much smarter than Gillians, and smaller as well, but they are still much bigger than normal humans. Their shapes can range from animal-like to humanoid, and many in between, and they are also capable of using Cero blasts and sonido, the Hollow equivalent of a Soul Reaper's flashstep. An Adjuchas must continue to eat other Hollows or else it will revert back into a mindless Gillian.

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/bleach/en/images/thumb/2/23/Adjuchas.jpg/189px-Adjuchas.jpg

Vasto Lordes: These are the most powerful forms of Menos, or Hollows at all, known yet. Their power easily rivals, and sometimes surpasses, that of Soul Reaper captains, and they can use Cero blasts and sonido to the utmost of their potential. Just one is a threat to Soul Society, but a group of them has the potential for catastrophe.

3/14/2010:

Time for some character discussion!

Jason Guffey (10): A Soul Reaper from Squad Ten focused on his duties and getting the job done right. Although he's decent at kidou and can use multiple flashsteps in succession, he prioritizes in standard sword play like Kendo, while thinking logically to find a strategy behind his enemy's style of attack. Though temporarily training under Squad Ten's captain, Isaac Gloritine, to get his Shikai, Jason is still unable to release his Zanpakutou. He can, however, remember quite a few things about his life in the world of the living, unlike most souls in the Soul Society.

Hunter Anderson (2): A Soul Reaper in Squad Two, also known as the Stealth Force, known for preferring to use a back-handed sword swing and a curved blade perfect for the job. Although Hunter uses his own style of zanjutsu (sword fighting), he specializes in Kidou above all else, being able to use spells that even Lieutenants barely use. His Zanpakutou, named Gi Diforume (literally meaning false logic distortion) allows him to focus all of his energy on manipulating the spirit particles around him, letting him trick his enemies' senses and perceptions. However, this skill has a small range of effect, as it takes immense endurance to maintain at all.

Jonathon Webster (11): A simplistic Soul Reaper in Squad Eleven, a squad known for simply using brute force, that simply does what needs doing, in the easiest manner. Jon (also known as Weeber from his last name) is surprisingly good at the use of flash steps, but is really lacking when it comes to social skills and being able to communicate with anyone. He makes up for this weakness by overpowering foes with physical attacks and speed. His Zanpakutou, Gase Meisu (literally meaning Lie Mace), is really a flail with three spiked balls attached by chain that allow him to beat his enemies without relent. The handle of the flail second functions as a mace when flipped around.

Ryan Wearmouth (9): A lazy Soul Reaper placed in Squad Nine that can use his excessive fortune to do virtually whatever he pleases. This includes eating whatever he wants while on duty (even drinking if he so pleased), bribing people on countless occasions, and influencing decisions on official orders. For example, it was because of Ryan that Greg and Kayla both got into the same squad as Lucas, while the four women that usually follow him around were able to get into his same squad. Ryan gets frustrated easily, and, when money can't solve the problem, he uses superfluous brute force to fix things. His Zanpakutou, Akaneirozashi (literally Madder Red Crushes to Death), is a large two-handed sword capable of making sonic booms. It should also be noted that Ryan is a potty-mouth, and really knows his way around curse words.

Dylan Follis (7): The upstart Lieutenant of Squad Seven, serving up alongside Captain Matthew Shepard, the newest of the thirteen captains. Socially talented, Dylan (also "Pickle" based on his first name) can talk to just about anyone with ease, but also knows how to handle himself in a fight. Although he graduated a year before the above four Soul Reapers, it was rumored that he held several records in the Soul Reaper Academy for things like longest shunpo (flash step) distance, and most spirit energy held and maintained. His Zanpakutou, Koukin (literally Jew's Harp), has a normal form where it's simply a gold six-point star-like ring weapon, with another miniature ring connected via chain to each of its points that can be launched like a spinning saw blade, while its second form, Daiou Koukin (literally King Jew's Harp) trades the ring for a thick, golden round shield in one hand and a machete-like blade in the other, a weapon that can launch the above star projectiles with a swing.

6/26/2010:

And now, the update I've been waiting forever for is here, the two releases of a Soul Reaper's Zanpakutou!

Shikai: The Shikai (lit. Initial Release) is the second form (or first "upgraded" form) available to a Zanpakutou. To activate it, the Soul Reaper needs to learn the name of their Zanpakutou. This is not as easy as simply picking a name, as the living spirit of the Zanpakutou already has its own name (e.g. Koukin for Pickle or Gi Diforume for Hunter). Therefore, the Soul Reaper must be able to communicate and harmonize with their Zanpakutou effectively, which requires being able to speak to the spirit within its world. This is what Hunter, Weeber, and my character have done so far in the story.

Bankai: The Bankai (lit. Final Release) is the second and final upgraded form of a Zanpakutou. The power and forms of Shikai and Bankai are dependent on the Zanpakutou. They also vary according to the wielder's strength and training. But in general, one's power can grow 5 to 10 times greater. Only the strongest Soul Reapers can use it. It is also the ultimate technique of a Zanpakutou. The power that comes with Bankai tends to be similar to the Shikai's ability/theme but amplifies it to much greater levels of power and effect. Some simply increase the original ability, while other Bankai follow the theme of the sword. However, a high enough level of spiritual energy can be used to disrupt the rhythm of a Bankai. The biggest flaw of Bankai lies in the overwhelming power it releases. Its power and form are often far beyond that of a normal weapon.

A Zanpakutou's Bankai is often a manifestation of the spirit itself, usually creating a massive creature or a very powerful effect to aid the user in battle. The Bankai itself will receive a different name in addition to the ordinary Zanpakutou (for example Captain Sheppard's Tenmaryoushi becomes Reikon Tenmaryoushi). Certain Soul Reapers also change with their Zanpakutou, gaining clothing similar to what their Zanpakutou's spirit form looks like. Most Zanpakutou will also gain additional special abilities, or a more enhanced version of the usual one. Like with the Shikai, most of these abilities have an associated name. Maintaining the Bankai is taxing for the wielder, and it is difficult to maintain it for long periods of time for most Soul Reapers.