Takeda Katsumoto

[Sengoku]

Name: Takeda Katsumoto「武田勝元」, Tora no Kai「甲斐の虎, "Tiger of Kai"」

Age: 22

Birthdate: 01/12 (December 1^st)

Nationality/Cultural Group: Japan, Kai (real-world Yamanashi) Prefecture, City of Kōfu

Height: 5'8"/173 cm

Weight: 203 lbs/92.1 kg

Gender: Male

Affiliations:

• Takeda Clan (heir)
• Mochizuki Clan
• Tokugawa Shōgunate
• Abe no Seimei University (student)
• Cavalry Association

Appearance:

• Black hair styled up with gel, messy in the front and top with a ponytail in the back.
  
• Amber irises, typically with a laid back expression and cocky smirk.
• Lean physique comparable to a professional athlete's, built up from regular exercise and training.
• Fond of western clothing and mixes it with Japanese fashion when in casual situations. Will push the boundaries when forced to wear uniforms, such as having the shirt buttoned down to the chest or refusing to wear the jacket properly and draping it over his shoulders. Jackets typically have the Takeda's clan mon printed on it.
• Has tiger-themed irezumi (full-body tattoo) on his back. Keeps his skin clean in the front.
• Favors yakuza or bōsōzoku aesthetics.

Belongings: 

• Daishō, a set of swords consisting of an uchigatana and a wakizashi forged by the Mutsunokami School of Blacksmithing.
  • Uchigatana: Mutsunokami Toratsume「陸奥守虎爪, "Mutsunokami, Tiger's Claw"」.
  • Wakizashi: Mutsunokami Torakiba「陸奥守虎牙, "Mutsunokami, Tiger's Fang"」.
• Takeda Clan badge of nobility. Shows the clan mon, the four-diamond arrangement.
• Revolver built by Saika Industries.
  • Saika .44 Tora no Hōkō「虎の咆哮, "Tiger's Roar"」, based on the American Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum.
• Motorcycle by Takeda Motors, the Shingen Model III.
• Steady flow of money from the Takeda Clan.

Personality:

"Nobody outruns a Takeda. Trust me - they've all tried."

Takeda Katsumoto is a young man who lives by the motto "Ride or Die." He likes to live fast even though he knows he may end up dying young, but since when have samurai ever become famous for being pacifists? As a hooligan at heart, Katsumoto has a rebellious streak with authority, including his own father, thus explaining why he balances a life between serving the Kai Prefecture as heir to the Takeda Clan while also running with the local bōsōzoku and yakuza gangs that remain under the Takeda's (and Mochizuki's) payrolls. Having spent years with them and learning from his aunt, Katsumoto has learned that eliminating crime is impossible - the next best option is to then control it.

Despite how easy it is to mistake him for a flamboyant thug, Katsumoto still carries a natural charisma that makes it hard for many to hate him despite his antics. A self-described "asshole with a heart," Katsumoto genuinely cares for others and will help out those in need out of the goodness of his heart, assuming he likes you enough to do so. On the flip side, Katsumoto can show a very cold-blooded side to his enemies, snuffing out lives as easily as one bites into rice ball. Katsumoto has a skewed sense of justice yet he still tries to do what he can to make this world a little bit better while also having fun in his own way. With every fight or race he partakes in, Katsumoto gambles with his life just like his foes. Only time will tell how long it takes before his luck runs out.

Character Strengths:

• Athletic Physique - Katsumoto's active and violent lifestyle lends to him having to work out regularly, though there are times where he can get a workout simply by engaging in his risky antics. While he's no bodybuilder, Katsumoto is still fit enough to lift himself up ledges or help pull others. It goes without saying that his physique is well-adapted to fighting, including his honed arms whenever he fires that beast of a revolver.
• Trained Fighter - Despite enjoying a good brawl every now and then, Katsumoto is actually well-versed in martial arts thanks to his samurai status. He may not look like it, but Katsumoto has grown up practicing Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū, covering swordsmanship, spear-fighting, and unarmed combat. Katsumoto likes to spice things up by adding a little street-fighting into the mix - after all, there are no rules in a real fight.
• Bombastic Bravado - Cavalrymen cannot be cowards. The act of charging full speed into enemy ranks requires near reckless amounts of bravery, a trait Katsumoto embodies. Frequently treading the line between bravery and stupidity, Katsumoto is always willing to dive headfirst into a challenge and does not frighten easily.
• Animal Handler - Being raised by an accomplished horseman and a horse breeder, Katsumoto grew up surrounded by animals, resulting in him having spent almost as time with animals as he did with people. He has learned the general behavior of most common animals and picked up some nuggets of knowledge that are specific to a few that he handles regularly. There are times when the Takeda boy seems more at peace with animals than with people.

Character Flaws:

• Cocky Bastard - Katsumoto's ego more often than not lands him in hot water and he still has not learned to fix this over the 22 years he has been alive. Boastful and proud, he carries himself with the same swagger as a yakuza boss with a habit of showing off. Katsumoto's tendency to gamble with his life and survive had built up this arrogance over the years, leading him to believe he has a long time before he kicks the bucket.
• Needless Competition - Always wanting to be the best - or at least, to simply win - Katsumoto can be insufferable at times when he perceives even simple tasks as a competition with others. Although this means he puts his all into what he is doing, it also means there's a chance he may rush it, leading to further mistakes.
• Impulsive Tendencies - Never one to plan things out, most of what Katsumoto does is on a whim. Katsumoto does what he wants, when he wants, and where he wants, so long as it does not cause too much trouble for others. However, this also means when given a reason take a life, Katsumoto is much more prone to pulling the trigger than keeping his target alive to extract information. He regularly relies on others to keep him in check.
• Too Proud to Back Down - A man's reputation can mean everything on the streets and in the noble courts. Katsumoto has built up a reputation for being bold and bombastic over the years and he is not about to let others prove him wrong. More often than not, Katsumoto lets his ego and pride guide his decisions than rational thought.

Backstory: Speed and ferocity. This is the military doctrine of the Takeda Clan, a lineage renowned for their unmatched cavalry and rapid troop deployment. Mighty as they were, the Takeda Clan was crushed in the 16^th century, but the Tokugawa Shogunate deemed them worthy enough to receive a second chance at life - they have since regained their lost power and prestige in the centuries that followed. Born into the saddle, Katsumoto showed a talent for horsemanship at an early age, already able to keep up with adult riders on full-grown horses while he trotted behind them on a pony. In the years to come, Katsumoto's skill would only grow as he shifted gears towards motorcycles for modern mounted combat. High-speed was the name of the game and Katsumoto was determined to be unrivaled in that field.

Life within the Takeda Clan was not easy, however. The Takeda is a clan of warriors first and foremost; should an eldest son be found lacking, the status of heir could easily shift to his younger brother. This was the case between Katsumoto and his older brother Nobutaka when their father found Nobutaka to be outshined in the field of riding and combat. Though Nobutaka was more gifted at the conventional arts and possessed greater charm, he tended to squander such skills by being a rich playboy. Katsumoto, on the other hand, relished the adrenaline that could only be replicated by riding and fighting at high speeds, making it clear for their father of who was the better fit for an heir to a warrior clan. From that point on, the relationship between both brothers fractured, held together only by their dear mother, the one person both boys genuinely cared for.

The relationship between the Takeda brothers only worsened Katsumoto's powers sparked to life before Nobutaka's, earning even more of the elder brother's ire. This led to Nobutaka committing despicable acts in an effort to get at his younger brother, knowing full well he couldn't win in a direct fight. This ranged from breaking his bicycles, injuring him on purpose during training, and more. The last straw was when Nobutaka poisoned Katsumoto's beloved pony to hurt him in a way that could not heal. Year by year, their hatred for each other festered beyond their mother's death from early-set dementia. Once she was gone, what little love remained between Katsumoto and Nobutaka died alongside their mother. Katsumoto would continue to be the rebellious heir with a strained relationship with their father, pressured into being a proper samurai and unable to give up the gangster life. Nobutaka faded quietly into obscurity, neglected by their father and overshadowed by his younger brother. Even so, Katsumoto presses on without regret - a tiger must never look back when advancing.

Family, Friends, Etc: 

• Takeda Nobukatsu「武田信勝」: The 44-year old father of Katsumoto and Nobutaka, Takeda Nobukatsu is the daimyō of the Takeda Clan and General of Kai Prefecture's military. A skilled warrior and learned commander, it is undeniable by even his estranged sons that the man is a shining example of what a samurai should be, yet being a talented samurai does not excuse him being a terrible father. Everything Nobukatsu did was to serve the Takeda Clan's proud lineage first and foremost, meaning that love for his family came second. The Takeda brothers grew up with a cold, distant father who only cared for competence and results. Yet even Nobukatsu is not without a heart, for he would eventually grow to genuinely love his wife, a woman he only viewed as a tool for the first decade of their marriage. Only when she was diagnosed with early-set dementia did he begin to realize that he loved her back the way she loved him. When his wife departed this world, Nobukatsu finally felt grief for his beloved. Worse, he now feels a deep regret for what he has done over the years. The man knows he is responsible for this broken family of warriors and fears it is beyond repair, especially for Nobutaka. As of now, he still tries to reach out and maintain contact with Katsumoto, hoping to mend what little remains between them and prepare the Takeda heir for the future.
• Takeda Asami, née Yamagata「武田朝美」: Were she still alive, the mother of Katsumoto and Nobutaka would be 40-years old today, though she died of early-set dementia at the age of 30. Though she was married off to Nobukatsu to bond the Takeda and Yamagata families together, she embraced the family life early on, having always been a kinder soul than her more distant husband. Even in him, she found some qualities of his that she could love. Asami was the one thing holding their fractured family together despite her husband's cold treatment of his sons and how both Takeda brothers held deep hatred for one another. Even when diagnosed with early-set dementia, Asami did everything she could to prepare her family for a future without her and spent her final years loving them as much as she could while she could still recognize them. When her time came, the Takeda family finally broke apart, leaving only pieces for her sons and her husband to pick up.
• Takeda Nobutaka「武田信孝」: The 25-year old brother of Katsumoto, Nobutaka appears to be a charming young man with dashing good looks, easily drawing the attention of countless young women and more just by walking down the street. Beyond that, he also possesses skills in music, able to sing and play the guitar. As for his skill in combat, Nobutaka is no slouch, either, though his skills put him at above average at best. Outshined by the more violent Katsumoto, Nobutaka was booted from heir status since he only ever seemed to spend his time practicing skills deemed undesirable by their father while Katsumoto was shaping up to be more of what their father envisioned should be his successor. Neglect twisted him into a vile young man hiding behind a pleasant demeanor, even taking advantage of his mother's love to torment his younger brother. With her gone, however, Nobutaka came to a grim realization that Katsumoto now had nothing holding him back. Nobutaka has since gone quiet and avoided Katsumoto, knowing full-well Katsumoto may kill him if provoked too far. However, Nobutaka still has not stopped his scheming - without their mother to watch over them, it just means that she will not have to see him plunge Katsumoto into an early demise.
• Tomo「友」: Katsumoto's first steed and friend. Tomo was a pony whose purpose was to train the Takeda boy from an early age so that he would be ready for full-sized horses in his later years. Though he outgrew her, Katsumoto held onto her as a dear friend and member of the family, personally caring for her whenever he had the time. Yet between his training and the alternating shifts of the caretakers for Tomo, Nobutaka still found a way to poison the pony over a span of weeks stretching into months. Even with medication, Tomo would eventually grow sick and die from the poisoning, cementing the rift that had formed between the Takeda brothers. To this day, Katsumoto still bears a grudge against Nobutaka for killing Tomo and getting away with it.
• Akaboshi「赤星」: Katsumoto's 9-year old stallion bred for war, even though warhorses no longer see use in modern warfare. Akaboshi is a particularly ill-tempered horse who does not hesitate to partake in violence against others, a trait that makes him invaluable among warhorses. Yet thanks to the skillful animal husbandry skills of the Takeda Clan, even Akaboshi could be tamed, though only the likes of Nobukatsu and Asami could even approach the horse without it fussing. More than that, Katsumoto is the only person that Akaboshi acknowledges as a master and will allow to ride on him, demonstrating the unbreakable bond the two have forged over the years.
• Mochizuki Tsukiko「望月月子」: The 38-year old "aunt" of Katsumoto with no blood relation to the Takeda family, yet she has been there since the Takeda boys were still in diapers to help Asami take care of her sons. She watched over the boys after their mother's death and continued to advise Nobukatsu on matters of running the clan. While the public does believe that she is a distant sister of Nobukatsu, the family knows well enough that she's actually one of the top kunoichi within the Mochizuki Clan of ninjas in service to the Takeda Clan of samurai. Now that he's older, Katsumoto has gotten to see the true side of Tsukiko who tends to help him control the gangs of Kai Prefecture, agreeing in his ideology that crime cannot be eliminated but must instead be controlled. Though she certainly uses the Takeda Clan for her own purposes, she has grown to genuinely care for Katsumoto, seeing him as the son she never knew she wanted.
• Mochizuki Tsubasa「望月翼」: A 21-year old gyaru in that was adopted into the Mochizuki Clan by Tsukiko. Since their early years, Tsubasa was raised and trained by Tsukiko in the art of ninjutsu, putting the girl on the path of a kunoichi much like how Katsumoto was set on the path of a samurai. Tsubasa has long served as Katsumoto's shadow and is among his closest friends, with the two frequently seen together. Tsubasa tends to serve as the level-headed handler of Katsumoto to make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble, given the young man's impulsive behavior. Still, the two make for a lethal duo with an uncanny tendency to case trouble and mischief.

Powers: Katsumoto's powers are based on speed, befitting of the Takeda Clan and their preference for rapid deployment and swift assaults. His powers are very similar to his father's, leading many to view this as evidence that Katsumoto is favored by both the kami and the ancestors to lead the Takeda Clan. His powers are own, so there is no yokai contract nor price that needs to be paid. Supposedly, old records indicate that this set of powers may run in the family as far back as the days of Takeda Shingen life.

Power Theme: Speed demon. Katsumoto's powers allow him to move at unbelievably high speeds for short periods of time, with stronger abilities increasing how long he can move at breakneck speeds. Additionally, each of his abilities has ties to a natural element such as wind or fire, adding an extra kick to his abilities. Not only that, but during these brief bursts of speed, Katsumoto's mind moves just as fast as his body, allowing him to process the situation and view the world as if it was in slow motion. The short duration of these bursts still require him to make wise decisions, lest he reposition himself only to leave his defenses wide open afterwards. Each of Katsumoto's speed-based abilities propels him fast enough to allow him to run on water, though he will fall into it once it wears off if he remains over the water.

Rank C Ability: Kaze ga Gotoku「風が如く, "Like the Wind"」 - Katsumoto moves at inhuman speeds within a few seconds (one turn), able to instantly move up to a maximum of 30 feet/9 meters. Katsumoto cannot attack and can only use this to reposition himself or escape a bad situation as any vigorous action such as attacking or lifting something heavy will break his concentration. Even with this speed, Katsumoto must still take care of rough terrain - if he were to slip on ice or mud, he runs the risk of propelling himself into a wall at high speeds, potentially breaking his bones. When this ability activates, Katsumoto leaves behind a gust of wind that trails his path.

Rank B Ability: Hi ga Gotoku「火が如く, "Like the Fire"」- Within the span of a few seconds (one turn), Katsumoto is able to move at a high speed up to 30 feet/9 meters, but he only in a straight line and is unable to steer himself. While moving, his weapon of choice - which can also be his fists or feet - are engulfed in flames. When Katsumoto reaches his target, he strikes at them, inflicting not only physical damage from the high-speed impact but also from the flames that burst forth onto his foe. While charging forth with this skill, Katsumoto leaves behind a trail of flames that linger until they are put out.

Rank C Passive: Mori ga Gotoku「森が如く, "Like the Forest"」- Whenever Katsumoto uses any of his speed-based abilities, he can choose to have it affect either a vehicle or mount he is directly controlling or up to two other people he is touching. If he chooses to bring them along with him, they will travel at the same speed he does and are able to process the speed the same way he can for the short duration, allowing him to help allies reposition themselves or allowing him to hunt down a foe in a vehicular chase. The vehicle or mount must be roughly the size of a motorcycle or horse, so Katsumoto cannot replicate this ability with larger vehicles like cars. Additionally, passengers on his vehicle or mount are also affected, so long as they are touching the vehicle or mount while Katsumoto is as well.

SPOILER: Click to show

BANANA

[Umbraflamma]

Character: No complaints here
Powers:
Theme: I see fire and wind featured in his powers is some level of fire or wind manipulation intended to be a part of his portfolio?
Rank C: Can he respond to attacks with this? What are the Limitations, say with rough terrain, or water? What happens when he uses this ability repeatedly, is there any specific downside?
Rank B: How significant is the impact? Are the flames capable of catching or do they burn themselves out automatically?
C Passive: Does it affect passengers on his vehicle or mount if he uses it while having them along for the ride?

[Sengoku]

Issues have been addressed and Katsumoto revolver has been toned down from comedic levels of firepower!

[Umbraflamma]

[mermalaide]