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Kaiga Varuna
Kaiga Varuna (born Safir 21, 370) is the third-party within Phantom Asylum. The typical shonen hero, he perseveres through hard work and the faith in everyone. He’s willingly to spare anyone to give them a second chance, especially beating some love and tolerance into them.
Appearance
Kaiga stands at a generous 4’11” for his age, combined with his insurmountable mass of bones, cartilage and muscle that have been hardened and condensed for 10 years straight makes his entire body virtually adamantine. The scarred dark skin acclimated for extreme heat contrast with his once blonde hair becoming pure white of intense stress gives off an image of a hard working boy that underwent inhumane labor and training if it weren’t the smile that seems to be always there.
Following facial features, it becomes apparent that he’s not human by his yellow eyes that have a vertical silt as pupils. This gives him a cat-like appearance, and it’s further emphasized with the whisker marks on his cheeks. This both represents his culture from Petakauata and his race as a Kivren.
Unlike Kivrens though, he lacks the entrancing voice, fins, or gills. This part of his subrace as a Silky when he’s swimming, his lower body transforms smoothly into something that of a seal. The difference is the transformation is painless and takes less than a few seconds.
He always makes sure he looks sharp with what little coin he has. From high raised collars to cavalier boots, he always makes sure his trusty weapon and his black and white checkerboard toga are always on his person.
Following facial features, it becomes apparent that he’s not human by his yellow eyes that have a vertical silt as pupils. This gives him a cat-like appearance, and it’s further emphasized with the whisker marks on his cheeks. This both represents his culture from Petakauata and his race as a Kivren.
Unlike Kivrens though, he lacks the entrancing voice, fins, or gills. This part of his subrace as a Silky when he’s swimming, his lower body transforms smoothly into something that of a seal. The difference is the transformation is painless and takes less than a few seconds.
He always makes sure he looks sharp with what little coin he has. From high raised collars to cavalier boots, he always makes sure his trusty weapon and his black and white checkerboard toga are always on his person.
Personality Type: ISFP-A
On the surface, Kaiga is outgoing and amicable to all people regardless of the situation. He’s quick to act on opportunities or problems, mistaking him as impulsive and spontaneous. His speech and dialect such as tryna, I’ma, whatchu, ain’t, ‘em, ‘bout, ya, and nawmsayin, gives off a “street-smart” sounding vibe.
On a deeper level, he’s a powerhouse overcoming obstacles that no child or army could achieve. Martial arts to Kaiga are infinite ways to express oneself through the body rather than an effective tool for cathartic slaughter. While it sounds like it contradicts his pacifist beliefs on paper, it actually makes sense. Pacifism is a devotion to finding another way, and martial arts hold infinite ways.
Despite that, Kaiga often withdraws and stays silent for comfort. The reason he’s able to converse so easily is just an act to be extroverted which can be draining. In layman's terms, he’s a simple man. A simple man for him means working hard, helping others in need, and most of all pacifism. He doesn’t want to overcomplicate things. Beliefs are like toys to him, he’ll stumble upon one but he knows it has to be taken away from him. It is what makes him control himself and the reality he faces.
On a deeper level, he’s a powerhouse overcoming obstacles that no child or army could achieve. Martial arts to Kaiga are infinite ways to express oneself through the body rather than an effective tool for cathartic slaughter. While it sounds like it contradicts his pacifist beliefs on paper, it actually makes sense. Pacifism is a devotion to finding another way, and martial arts hold infinite ways.
Despite that, Kaiga often withdraws and stays silent for comfort. The reason he’s able to converse so easily is just an act to be extroverted which can be draining. In layman's terms, he’s a simple man. A simple man for him means working hard, helping others in need, and most of all pacifism. He doesn’t want to overcomplicate things. Beliefs are like toys to him, he’ll stumble upon one but he knows it has to be taken away from him. It is what makes him control himself and the reality he faces.
Relationships
Amadea Clematis — One of few Kaiga’s friend that tolerate with his antics. He admires her as both a person and a teacher. It’s partly due to the fact he reminds him of his archenemies, Kalaratri, to the point where he calls her “mini-kali”. He always makes an effort to figure out her wants or needs with as little words as possible. On the contrary, he has to excuse and apologize on her behalf due to her brusque demeanor. Even though they have opposing opinions and ideals, she’s the only person that lets him be himself and keep quiet without keeping up the extroverted act. Afterall, they were meant to be enemies but the inner machinations of the Phantom Asylum forced them to work as allies.
Items and Possessions
Sword of Eolydirr’s Frontier
Despite the name, it’s just one finely made sword made out of indestructible wood. It’s said those of pure of hearts said to make a thousand cuts from one draw, and all would phase through the defenses regardless as there’s no such thing that can withstand time itself.
Oar of Convenient Inconvenience
A seemingly normal but nearly indestructible oar with a message written in Kalar that has an idiom engraved in the handles. It translates to “Blanance: for every convenience, comes with every inconvenience.”
Punishing Slipper of Disappointed Parents
Though, not in his person, it’s cursed to him to be launched at literal breakneck speed whenever he fails. It always seemed to be in the enemies’ hand whenever they got the upper hand on him.
Despite the name, it’s just one finely made sword made out of indestructible wood. It’s said those of pure of hearts said to make a thousand cuts from one draw, and all would phase through the defenses regardless as there’s no such thing that can withstand time itself.
Oar of Convenient Inconvenience
A seemingly normal but nearly indestructible oar with a message written in Kalar that has an idiom engraved in the handles. It translates to “Blanance: for every convenience, comes with every inconvenience.”
Punishing Slipper of Disappointed Parents
Though, not in his person, it’s cursed to him to be launched at literal breakneck speed whenever he fails. It always seemed to be in the enemies’ hand whenever they got the upper hand on him.
Abilities
A prodigy that knows the way, it lets him surpass the limitations of his body to supernatural reach. He studied martial arts long enough that looks like advanced magic to the untrained eye. With an array of maneuvers from six martial disciplines, he always got the right tool for the right job.
Mobility hampered by terrain or need the enemy tank out of the way? Senilicik Tactics to ignore it and Tenfold Titan to throw down.
Failed against a trap or flanked by two enemies? Zephyr Leaf to negate damage or Aegis Solo-blade to give no ground.
A speedster giving him trouble? Brass Panache to let the elements do the work or Crimson Talons to prevent them from taking any turns.
Overall, Kaiga changes the game to make melee fun again.
Mobility hampered by terrain or need the enemy tank out of the way? Senilicik Tactics to ignore it and Tenfold Titan to throw down.
Failed against a trap or flanked by two enemies? Zephyr Leaf to negate damage or Aegis Solo-blade to give no ground.
A speedster giving him trouble? Brass Panache to let the elements do the work or Crimson Talons to prevent them from taking any turns.
Overall, Kaiga changes the game to make melee fun again.
| Aegis Solo-blade — One of the youngest branches from the prehistoric martial arts, Primordius Ancient-Blade. Aegis Solo-blade maneuvers specialize in using defense for themselves or their allies. It focuses only on dueling and one blade to become an immovable force and disabling any offensive force. Like the Primordius Ancient-Blade, it favors bladed weapons or swords but it’s not unheard of to use it for other weaponry. While it deviated from the lethality unlike its predecessors, performance and fast-flowing moves are key skills. Crimson Talons — Invented when tribes were forced to fight against the Kha’atari, Crimson Talons helped many to keep up enemies with multiple limbs by shrugging off debilitating injuries and deflecting projectiles. It’s a discipline that focuses on dual wielding to unleash an entourage of vicious attacks and fervor to give enemies no chance to fight back. As a tribal discipline, primitive weapons such as spears and hand axes are very effective. Those who want to learn the maneuvers must be in peak condition and train the body to exhaustion, hence adepts of Crimson Talons have reflexes to avoid every droplet of a monsoon and jump easily over groves. ??? — The way of the sword saint is often a tricky path for those not smart enough to understand it’s full potential. One would be shocked that it’s measured by hard earned experience rather than memorized knowledge. As such, those who experienced hardship enough will unlock the first steps of sword saint mastery: Creating one’s own Martial Arts. | Zephyr Leaf — As more martial arts were being made in times of defending one’s self, this discipline was made when Grandmaster Lin wanted to create one that would be easily accessible and can be taught by any species. It wasn’t widely accepted as martial adepts saw no worth in evading attacks when there’s no maneuvers to strike back. Those who learn this art realizes it empowers other abilities insofar as an alternative to recover maneuvers. Zephyr Leaf purely focuses on evasive defense and increasing the power of other martial arts, magic or other abilities. One must understand the appreciation of nature and how the ecosystem works with each other to create something greater. It has no favored weapons, as its core belief to move gracefully and flexibility as key skills. Senilicik Tactics — Senilicik roughly translates to “Sneaky Arts” in Kalar of Straline dialect. Most of its maneuvers are made for fighting on all fours to increase the agility of the Straline but it also makes other species more stealthy. It utilizes the arts of stealth, deception, and ambush. It’s made for people willingly to endure unfavorable circumstances to blend in or adapt. Those who want to use it offensively study environments and opportunities to put foes at a disadvantage. It’s highly recommended to use hidden weaponry, or light blades to use the discipline to its fullest extent. Brass Panache — From the five elements, Brass Panache is an internal martial art that channels the elements from the body. Despite being a nonlethal martial art, it differs by emulating elemental magic as closely as possible while maintaining balance with no price. One must study geology and alchemy to have an idea how the elements work, lest they be a danger to others and themselves. While it’s conventionally less powerful than magic, it doesn’t follow the rules of magic but follows the rules of martial arts. As long as the body wills it, the elements within oneself will aid alongside the wielder. | Tenfold Titan — Back then, there were species that worship the Tuskadons as deities and Moriteres as demons due to their gigantic stature. It’s also been said that martial arts come from embodying the beast to mimic their immense strength. A discipline highly protected by the hermits of Malakath, it teaches to use one’s weight to turn the tide of the fight. Contrarily, it also teaches to use the enemy's weight against them. Insight and foresight is the key skill for mastering the discipline clinching, counters, grapples, redirecting, and takedowns. Legends say those who are experts can lift Tusakdons easily with one arm. █████ ████ — █████ ████ █████ ████ ██ ██ ███ ███ ████ ████ ███ ███ ███ ███ ███ ███ ███ ██ ███ ███ ████ ██ █████ ██ ███ ███ ███ ██ ████████ █████ ██ ████ — ███ █████ █████ ███ ███ ███ |
Sword Saint Variant: Way of the Wu-Tang & Unarmed Sword Saint
Kaiga’s original twist of his training as a sword saint, it's unpredictable and counter-intuitive for the sword saint’s style of hit and run with maneuvers but allows him to use maneuvers he did not prepare before plus giving flexibility to maneuvers in an alternative way. Based on the Kalar Wu-dang mountains in central Malakath, caution is thrown into the wind in order to experience things to the fullest before they fade away.
While he is at it, he utilizes more on himself as the weapon rather than worrying about the idea of carrying an actual weapon. No more maintaining armor and weapons with fancy oil and whetstones. Isn’t it redundant to fight with a weapon with great strength when it makes sense to fight with great strength?
Loses: Armor Training and All Martial Weapon Proficiency. Replaces: All five Principal Oaths.
While he is at it, he utilizes more on himself as the weapon rather than worrying about the idea of carrying an actual weapon. No more maintaining armor and weapons with fancy oil and whetstones. Isn’t it redundant to fight with a weapon with great strength when it makes sense to fight with great strength?
Loses: Armor Training and All Martial Weapon Proficiency. Replaces: All five Principal Oaths.
Wu-Tang Variant
Meta Maneuvers
While metamagics are reserved for spells, his lifetime of brain damage and concussions help him discover one thing: why not apply it for maneuvers? To offset his weaker maneuvers, he can use a similar method akin to metamagic. Where he can quicken, twinned, seek, or maximize the maneuver. These meta maneuvers cannot exceed his strongest maneuvers in order to maintain balance.
Wax on, Wax off
His eccentricity makes him gain hunches on certain situations or when Arethil demands it, along with making him harder to read. Whenever he has to recover a maneuver, his reflexes and agility increases to make him harder to hit. Additionally, his maneuvers can bypass any physical resistance and do additional damage to the ego and mind if he succeeds in confounding, outwitting, or demoralizing the enemy. This renders the enemy tilted, stunned, fuming, seething, or all of the above.
Underestimated
All strikes are guaranteed hits and deal double the damage against any enemy that underestimates him. Additionally, he can expend a maneuver to succeed in skill checks, or situations that contest his abilities. Should he go against an effect made from another creature, instead of saving against it, he forces the creature to also save against it — making it a contest. If he succeeds and the creature fails, he turns the effects against them. If both of them succeed, then the effect is wasted.
Unarmed Variant
Fast Movements
Kaiga sacrifices armor and protection for even more mobility to maximize Zephyr Leaf’s and Brass Panache’s potential. His fast movements can enable him to catch up against retreating enemies or foes at a far distance. It also gives him options to move up against any surface such as vertical walls and water.
Ki
If his large selection of maneuvers were absurd enough even for magical casting standards, then Ki adds another resource for Kaiga to keep track of. Using Ki to empower his strikes, be difficult to hit, or attack more after following up his maneuvers. While he loses out options for weapons for ki abilities that he’ll unlikely go in-depth with, ki synergizes with his melee focused kit while helping him be more useful outside of combat.
Martial Arts Progression
Like many martial artists, he trained his body as a weapon. Despite his small frame, one would be shocked that his virtually lifetime training of martial arts has led him to have full control of his own body, where he can manipulate his muscle mass, bone structure, and even contorting to extremes. His race as a Kivren may have helped him.
Weaknesses
Low Intelligence
As the tough little brat he is, he lacks the intellectual capacity to know every detail of the world. While his wisdom helps him piece things together, it doesn’t have a lot to work with. To measure his intelligence, he’s about below average. He’s unable to read, unable to understand complex words or topics, and unable to cast spells made for intellect.
Lack of Melee Defense or Armor Proficiency
Kaiga isn’t formally taught on how to wear armor or wield all weapons besides the ones he knows personally. His path of the sword saint doesn’t seem to give him any defensive capabilities or anything to survive the retributive onslaught on the enemy. He has to either hold back or play evasively beyond enemies’ reach, only striking at the opportune moments.
Path Restrictions and Inefficient Maneuver Recovery
As a sword saint, he’s knowledgeable on all sorts of maneuvers and how much he can readied them on a whim. This is a mixed blessing, though, since it leaves him with 1 or 2 options: have a good mix of counters, boost, rush, and strikes (meaning not excelling at one area) or specializing in one area and learn suboptimal maneuvers to fill in the rest. This is worse as it takes more than a couple seconds to recover one maneuver (think like choosing between using one maneuver or dedicating 3 posts for one maneuver)
Backstory
Kaiga was born when Silkies Kivren subrace exiles migrated to Malakath to avoid persecution. During his youth, he admired fighters and the dangerous beast of Malakath. Here he trained and lived as a vagabond martial artist, something that stayed the same to this day. He trained without a master, his lack of technique made up for the undying storm within his heart. It had caught the attention of many masters of Jianghu, but none would be more feared than the apex grandmaster called Fei.
Taught by the warmonger, Fei, she promised him that his 9 years with her will turn into 900 years of combat and death battles. Even after not upholding basic standards of his class, he very much enjoys the journey of martial arts. This was one of the few things that kept him from being kicked out of the dojo. This is where he was introduced to grandmaster Lin, setting him the path of the saint rather than of war. Even though they had one month to teach him everything, she was much more beneolovent than the warmonger herself. The few moments she taught left him speechless and he always stuck to Lin’s philosophies of Daoism. This was the time where Malakath was threatened by Thagretis’ tyranny.
As a theocracy, they sent their two trusted champions, Kalaratri the impossible and Kalika the improbable. The two identical crazy ladies terrorized the tribes and villages, demanding that their draconic god needs sacrifices. It was the day that Kaiga was waiting for: to prove his worth and save the day. He struts down with a confident smile for there’ll be a tomorrow for the people of Malakath. He went into his stance and challenged one of them with a deal: if he defeats them, they will leave the people alone but should they defeat them, then they’re free to do what they want. With that, Kalatri accepts his challenge first. Her title holds true, the impossible was no foe with a known weakness, let alone a possibility of one. However, Kaiga made the first solid move, telling the people of Malakath, that he, for sure, is unstoppable. Not a minute passed and he struck countless solid blows against the dragon lady while he remained untouched. He can hear the crowd cheering for their only savior, the future saved by the hero against all odds, and the final blow to end it once and for all.
.
Nobody knew where the hit came from, but all of them knew, she knew, and definitely he knew that one hit was all it took to put him an inch of his life. He couldn’t move, but he could hear Kalika’s god awful cackle while she mocks such naive expectations on himself. That he believes he can change the world. It cuts even deeper when he sees hope leave the people's eyes, knowing he already lost. Still, he gets up even after the loss and charges forward. But her final blow knocked him back into the cliffs of Malakath, out of sight from her. Yet, he clings on the walls of the cliff, his body subconsciously refusing to die, but his will defeated. He has disappointed his people, and he felt he was better off disappearing from them as he lets go and let himself fall into the unforgiving seas of Kiva.
They thought him dead and until the sea drifted him towards new lands. Still to this day, he feels that he feels disappointment from his old masters while his archenemies taunt him... What would’ve happened if he just tried again?
Taught by the warmonger, Fei, she promised him that his 9 years with her will turn into 900 years of combat and death battles. Even after not upholding basic standards of his class, he very much enjoys the journey of martial arts. This was one of the few things that kept him from being kicked out of the dojo. This is where he was introduced to grandmaster Lin, setting him the path of the saint rather than of war. Even though they had one month to teach him everything, she was much more beneolovent than the warmonger herself. The few moments she taught left him speechless and he always stuck to Lin’s philosophies of Daoism. This was the time where Malakath was threatened by Thagretis’ tyranny.
As a theocracy, they sent their two trusted champions, Kalaratri the impossible and Kalika the improbable. The two identical crazy ladies terrorized the tribes and villages, demanding that their draconic god needs sacrifices. It was the day that Kaiga was waiting for: to prove his worth and save the day. He struts down with a confident smile for there’ll be a tomorrow for the people of Malakath. He went into his stance and challenged one of them with a deal: if he defeats them, they will leave the people alone but should they defeat them, then they’re free to do what they want. With that, Kalatri accepts his challenge first. Her title holds true, the impossible was no foe with a known weakness, let alone a possibility of one. However, Kaiga made the first solid move, telling the people of Malakath, that he, for sure, is unstoppable. Not a minute passed and he struck countless solid blows against the dragon lady while he remained untouched. He can hear the crowd cheering for their only savior, the future saved by the hero against all odds, and the final blow to end it once and for all.
And it really did end it all.
One blow and he already lost everything.
One blow and he already lost everything.
.
Nobody knew where the hit came from, but all of them knew, she knew, and definitely he knew that one hit was all it took to put him an inch of his life. He couldn’t move, but he could hear Kalika’s god awful cackle while she mocks such naive expectations on himself. That he believes he can change the world. It cuts even deeper when he sees hope leave the people's eyes, knowing he already lost. Still, he gets up even after the loss and charges forward. But her final blow knocked him back into the cliffs of Malakath, out of sight from her. Yet, he clings on the walls of the cliff, his body subconsciously refusing to die, but his will defeated. He has disappointed his people, and he felt he was better off disappearing from them as he lets go and let himself fall into the unforgiving seas of Kiva.
They thought him dead and until the sea drifted him towards new lands. Still to this day, he feels that he feels disappointment from his old masters while his archenemies taunt him... What would’ve happened if he just tried again?
History
Kaiga has yet to debut in any of the threads yet.
Trivia
- Kaiga is intentionally named after the Kaiga Atomic Power Station. It’s a joke pointing out that Kaiga is a living powerhouse.
- He’s a vegetarian due to his teachings and appreciation for most animals. He tries his best to be pacifist and not kill but often likes the solution of beating people until they can’t fight.
- The only thing no one can compete against Kaiga is his tolerance of spiciness. He’s able to eat 20 raw ghost peppers with no signs of pain.