.:. Personal Information .:.
-- Name: Eldridge Tsukimono (Just "Eld" to most.)
-- Age: 16 (Utopia)
-- Birthday: October 20th
-- Race: Human
-- Sex: Male
-- Height: 5'5"
-- Weight: 113 lbs.
-- Nationality: Half Algerothian, Half Cizokian
—Occupation: Reaper...?
-- Status: Alive
-- Appearance:
-- Demeanor: Until recently, Eld was a very shy and introverted person. Though he could still be described as such, thanks to recent events he only is to a minor degree. Despite these qualities, he is normally a kind and sincere person, and isn't hesitant to get over his reservations when someone is in need of aid.
However, he still has trouble dealing with stress, particularly that involved with combat. Since he's a gentle person by nature, in order to fight effectively he has to repress his emotions while he fights, causing his demeanor to shift wildly. He becomes dark and determined, and nearly ruthless in his actions...even enjoying fighting to some degree. This causes quite a bit of backlash when things settle down depending on his actions, often causing a period of emotional instability. After his first series of battles against the bandits, he was in this state for over a week.
He also possesses a bit of a guilt complex: see his flaws for more details.
.:. History .:.
Eldridge Tsukimono grew up in a moderately sized farming community on the border of Algeroth and Cizok. His father Urikuse Tsukimono (from Cizok) and his mother Rebbecca (from Algeroth) were both doctors for the area, so Eld was educated fairly well in comparison to the rest of the village. However, this education also set him apart from others his age, and while not actively disliked, he was often avoided by his peers. The exception to this was a girl named Sarah Vaerbond, who seemed determined to befriend him, along with her sister Emma and their friend Mayako Takamine. They managed to draw Eld away from his isolation, and became good friends with him. As Eld entered his teens, he began studying to become a doctor like his parents.
Fate would have other plans. A group of raiders happened across the village. Getting tired of traveling, they decided instead to set up camp around the village, threatening and extorting the villagers, regularly taking food and stopping any from leaving to request help.
After a few months of this, it became apparent to the villagers that they would not survive at this rate. There was too little food for both the village and the raiders, and without leaving they couldn't trade for other supplies they needed, most notably medicines. All attempts to negotiate with the raiders had ended in failure, and in a few cases cost lives. Faced with its destruction, the village decided to fight back.
The raiders had grown careless with their conquest; they believed they had the village in the palm of their hands. So while they kept a constant eye on the roads, they cared little for went on in the village itself. This would be their downfall.
The villagers trained in secret, the blacksmiths forging weapons when they could, adapting farmers tools for the rest. Eld, too, trained for battle despite his parents' protests. He knew his parents wanted to keep him safe, but he felt he had to protect his home as much as anyone. With him was a Remington Vaerbond, Sarah and Emma's elder brother, who often watched over the four as kids.
The day of battle finally arrived, and a bloody day it was. Eld proved to be a terror in battle, drawing on a strength none, not even he, knew he had. He and Remington, who's abilities were practically superhuman, led the village to victory, the two of them fighting alone on the front line in the final part of the battle. However, the battle came at a great cost; as the bandits fled, one took a shot at Eldridge from behind. A quick move by Remmy, however, took him out of the bullet's path, but struck the elder Vaerbond in the chest.
In the week that followed, Eld kept mostly to himself; the battle had changed him, and he wasn't sure it was for the better. Afraid to face his new self, he made preparations to leave the village, known only to his parents. He told not even his friends, whom he was sure would be disappointed in him.
Fate had other plans, however; on the day Eld left the village, he was warned of an incoming attack from an unknown enemy. Fearing for his home, which was still reeling from the bandit attack, he returned to set up defenses and prepare for another fight. Noncombatants left, heading south for Cizokian territory, save for those too injured to travel, and his parents, who refused to abandon their patients.
Despite their forewarning and a little battle experience, the preparations were futile. The enemies were shades, otherworldly creatures who rose from the shadows to attack, massacring most of the village. Eld, who was on watch at the edge of the village and not immediately in danger, rushed back to his house, only to find his father mortally wounded and his mother being eaten by what appeared to be a shade in the shape of a young girl. Enraged, he attempted to strike her down, only to be stuck by a dark spear, rising from the shadow he cast by the light of the full moon.
Mortally wounded himself, as he awaited death his vision faded into gray, and a strange man entered his room, eyes glowing golden. After informing him that he was the only one left alive from the village, he offered Eldridge a chance: should he agree to give the man his soul, the villagers would be spared from the shades. Knowing he would die shortly anyway, Eld agreed, and the man grabbed his scythe, bringing it down into the young man's body, piercing his very soul...
In the month and a half or so since that day, much has happened: Eld sent his best friend Remmy, who was mortally wounded fighting the bandits, to the afterlife using his new found powers after narrowly preventing him from becoming an Ame Voleur--a renegade spirit, hunted by Reapers. A mysterious girl named Etsu had moved in with him, sent to keep an eye on him so that he wouldn't become an Ame Voleur himself, which he nearly did anyway after being exposed to the same secret Remmy was. It was only thanks to Etsu's actions that he regained control of his spirit. Though things have died down for the most part since then (with a few exceptions), his troubles have continued in the form of romantic complications: two of his best friends, Sarah Vaerbond (Remmy's younger sister) and Mayako Takamine are in love with him, and Etsu as well is developing feelings for him.
And he keeps hearing a voice in his head. It will be some time before Eld knows peace...
.:. Contacts .:.
Sarah Vaerbond: Best friend; love? "I wonder what would have happened with us, had things been different..."
Mayako Takamine: Best friend. "I did something terrible to her. Are things really alright between us?"
Emma Vaerbond: Best friend; surrogate sister. "She's very mature for her age...or at least she acts like she is. I hope she's not rushing things with this boyfriend of hers."
Etsu Hikane: Love. "Even though we've only known eachother a relatively short time, Etsu has become someone very important to me."
Remington Vaerbond: Best friend; surrogate brother. Deceased. "Remmy...I'll do my best. So...watch over me..."
Mai Uetmatsu/Mizuki Kato: Friend. "There was so much about her that I didn't know. It might not be likely, but I hope I see her again someday."
Rebbecca Tsukimono: Mother. "I know she cares about me, but I wish she wouldn't tease me so much."
Urikuse Tsukimono: Father. "Father can seem a bit cold, but he's actually very nice. He just has a very strange sense of humor."
.:. Battle Information .:.
-- Weapon of Choice: Scythe: To make up for his (initially) lacking physical ability, and not having much more than farmer's tools available, Eld chose to wield a scythe for its superior reach and ability to cut through multiple opponents at once.
Through twists in fate that are still being unraveled, the Eld's scythe became a Gaiasoul named Kageko. When he calls upon her power, the scythe changes into a double bladed weapon with a hooked blade on either end. When combined with the powers he receives as well, he goes from specializing in taking on multiple weaker opponents to an expert duelist, though due to the disadvantages discussed below he can only be one or the other.
Formerly Eld also carried a kusarigama--a sickle attached to a chain--into battle as a secondary weapon, however it has since fallen out of use as Eld's powers take its place in making up for the disadvantages of his weapon of choice.
.:. Equipment .:.
When still at home, Eld carries very little with him.
As a Reaper in the Dirige, though, he carries some support items necessary for his job.
.:. Talents .:.
Scythe/Sickle: Eld has no formal training in the weapon; he's entirely self taught, and therefore his movements tend to be straightforward.
Seele Ubertritt: The power of the Reapers, which allows them to manipulate reality via spirit. Eld has a lot of raw power due to his nature as a Fragment of Death, but it's unrefined, and therefore he can't accomplish anything that requires finesse with his power. In battle, he often uses pure spiritual force to assault his enemies. As it's invisible to those with no spiritual awareness, it seems to like wind pressure to normal people.
Medical Training: Eld was learning to be a doctor before his world was turned upside down by bandits, shades, and Reapers. He has extensive knowledge and experience of first aid procedures, and in theory he has the knowledge to perform basic surgical procedures, though he's never attempted it.
Deathblow: Originally a technique of Death's, Eld has gained use of it due to being a Fragment. For a single hit or brief action (such as lifting something) Eld can drastically multiply his strength using Qi. However, his body requires a small amount of time to recuperate before he can use it again.
Kageko: Due to the bond between Eld and the girl trapped within his scythe, he can call upon her powers in battle. Like all Gaiasouls, this power comes in the form of three "seals" that can be released:
First Seal Release: The scythe becomes a double-hook-bladed weapon, with a ring in the middle of the pole that serves as the grip. Eld can use Kageko's advance senses to react much faster than normal--however, the power only works effectively when focused on one person, as otherwise Eld's own senses get overwhelmed, leaving him vulnerable. Kageko also slightly decreases the physical abilities of whomever Eld is focused on.
Second Seal Release: The weapon gains a chain with a sickle on the end, attached to the ring in the center of the weapon. Additionally, Kageko also decreases the special abilities of whomever Eld is focused on.
Third Seal Release: Eld switches places with Kageko entirely, freeing her and becoming trapped in the scythe himself. To most Gaiasoul wielders this is a suicidal tactic, as the average Gaiasoul isn't likely to ever switch back, but Eld and Kageko's strong bond makes it viable for them.
.:. Flaws .:.
Ame Voleur Potential: As a Reaper, if Eld gives into anger and tampers with another person's spirit he'll become an Ame Voleur. This extends beyond normal moral standards, though; there is an unknown, active force that seems to drive residents of Purgatory to become obsessive and become Ame Voleurs. Eld's strong sense of justice makes him especially prone to this coercion, and his nature as a Fragment of Death would make him an especially dangerous Ame Voleur.
Guilt Complex: Eld is quick to blame himself when serious things go wrong, even in situations where there was obviously nothing he could do or he did the best he could. He exaggerates his shortcomings, and tends to become deeply depressed when things go wrong. However, he is slowly getting better about this.
.:. Statistical Analysis .:.
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