The Crimson Sparrow
| Age 32 |
| Gender Male |
| Origin Town of Saru, northern Aetochi |
| Occupation Swordsman Mercenary |
Bio: Suzaku was born to a town named Saru, in the northern parts of the Aetochi country and island. The town was in the area controlled by the Mountain Clan, though Suzaku was born just a commoner. His parents spent all their time just trying to work enough to survive in the harsh cold, which their son tried to help when he was old enough to. He didn't have any time to make friends or have fun as a child, which planted a seed of anger in him at having his childhood denied, blossoming into a hatred for how life is forced to be for others like him. He would have been doomed to obscurity if he hadn't fallen into the secluded training spot for one from the Mountain Clan.
Haseo wasn't in line for any prestigious position, as he was just another male, but even as a child he was skilled at learning the blade. The hopes for the clan's continued honor on his shoulders, he would train in the mountains to try to attain his desired level of skill, but easily hit a wall at what he could do by himself. Suzaku fell into this place after having tripped while carrying supplies to the town, and despite his low birth he moved with a natural grace that Haseo could recognize. He had an idea, to turn Suzaku into a secret training partner, and in return he would be the tiger's first real friend. Suddenly he felt his life had a purpose, and he took to the training surprisingly quickly.
The two of them excelled at the blade, finding that they also had an affinity for using the Shroud as well, though their minds only seemed able to apply it to their swordplay. While Suzaku was always a secret, Haseo's quick rise in skill surprised others in the Mountain Clan, while it made some others envious. Their pride injured by their years of study overtaken by a young upstart, in their eyes, they plotted to teach the boy a lesson. One day they followed Haseo back to his training spot, but before Suzaku arrived, and they took their doling of punishment too far and mortally wounded the boy. Secluded as the place was, they figured he would die there and no one would know.
Suzaku knew. He found Haseo on the verge of death, not enough time to take him to a healer. The other boy gave him his sword, wanting him to make his own life away from the chains of family and society in these lands. Passing away, Haseo's plea turned into another seed alongside the hatred of their society, combining into a desire to destroy what had created both of their lots in life. That would require more than what Suzaku could do with his current power, so he decided to leave and hone his skills until he found a way to brng down Aetochi's rigid society. Before he left, though, he paid a visit to the men who had killed Haseo. They thought he was a simple farm worker, weak and beneath their concern and notice. Their bodies were never found, their severed heads adorning the small grave in that secluded mountain clearing.
Now working as a mercenary for any place that can give him a challenge, Suzaku has been wandering and practicing for over a decade. He knows he will always have more to learn, more to grow, and with the weight of two dreams on his shoulders he marches on.
Haseo wasn't in line for any prestigious position, as he was just another male, but even as a child he was skilled at learning the blade. The hopes for the clan's continued honor on his shoulders, he would train in the mountains to try to attain his desired level of skill, but easily hit a wall at what he could do by himself. Suzaku fell into this place after having tripped while carrying supplies to the town, and despite his low birth he moved with a natural grace that Haseo could recognize. He had an idea, to turn Suzaku into a secret training partner, and in return he would be the tiger's first real friend. Suddenly he felt his life had a purpose, and he took to the training surprisingly quickly.
The two of them excelled at the blade, finding that they also had an affinity for using the Shroud as well, though their minds only seemed able to apply it to their swordplay. While Suzaku was always a secret, Haseo's quick rise in skill surprised others in the Mountain Clan, while it made some others envious. Their pride injured by their years of study overtaken by a young upstart, in their eyes, they plotted to teach the boy a lesson. One day they followed Haseo back to his training spot, but before Suzaku arrived, and they took their doling of punishment too far and mortally wounded the boy. Secluded as the place was, they figured he would die there and no one would know.
Suzaku knew. He found Haseo on the verge of death, not enough time to take him to a healer. The other boy gave him his sword, wanting him to make his own life away from the chains of family and society in these lands. Passing away, Haseo's plea turned into another seed alongside the hatred of their society, combining into a desire to destroy what had created both of their lots in life. That would require more than what Suzaku could do with his current power, so he decided to leave and hone his skills until he found a way to brng down Aetochi's rigid society. Before he left, though, he paid a visit to the men who had killed Haseo. They thought he was a simple farm worker, weak and beneath their concern and notice. Their bodies were never found, their severed heads adorning the small grave in that secluded mountain clearing.
Now working as a mercenary for any place that can give him a challenge, Suzaku has been wandering and practicing for over a decade. He knows he will always have more to learn, more to grow, and with the weight of two dreams on his shoulders he marches on.
Appearance
| Height 6'1" |
| Build Slender |
| Hair Red |
| Eyes Amber |
Suzaku from a distance looks like an anthropomorphic white tiger, though as you get closer there are some key differences from this assumption. He has long red hair at the top of his head, kept back in a ponytail most of the time, and his scales are iridescent in color instead of black. He has piercing amber eyes and has wiry muscles underneath this slender build, which his fur helps just a bit to make it seem like he has more meat on the bones than he actually does. He moves with a practiced grace, almost in full control of himself from years of training and sparring, but when he becomes enraged he can be like a feral animal.
The most common garment Suzaku wears is a crimson robe that looks simple at first glance, though on the inside there are metal plates sewn into the fabric to provide some light armor as well as acting as weight for the swordfighter's movements. Wearing a simple shirt and hose underneath, if he removes his robe his full speed and strength can be used, which the slight change can catch foes off guard for a few moments. At his hips are two swords, though he only uses one that has a slightly curved blade common for his hometown. The other sword, with a more curved blade reminiscent of a crescent moon, has yet to be drawn in combat, perhaps being a keepsake of some kind.
The most common garment Suzaku wears is a crimson robe that looks simple at first glance, though on the inside there are metal plates sewn into the fabric to provide some light armor as well as acting as weight for the swordfighter's movements. Wearing a simple shirt and hose underneath, if he removes his robe his full speed and strength can be used, which the slight change can catch foes off guard for a few moments. At his hips are two swords, though he only uses one that has a slightly curved blade common for his hometown. The other sword, with a more curved blade reminiscent of a crescent moon, has yet to be drawn in combat, perhaps being a keepsake of some kind.
Personality
To strangers, Suzaku can seem quiet and distant, though he is always polite to those that show him some in kind. When he finds someone to open up to, he more readily wears his feelings on his sleeve, also willing to do anything to protect someone important to him. Despite this seeming discipline over his emotions, his rage and indignation lurks very close to the surface, and when it takes over he can turn almost into a feral beast with few words and a greatly heightened bloodlust. It's during these times that people find out why he is known as the Crimson Sparrow.
Skills
Accelerator - Using the small amount of control over the shroud that he has, Suzaku augments his body's speed as well as his mind's reaction speed by a small amount. This allows him to move faster and hit harder while being able to process this increase without being disoriented. He cannot keep this state for any prolonged period of time, usually only doing so for at most a few seconds when needed in a fight to gain an edge. A side effect of this ability is that it drains his body's energy quickly, making him grow tired far quicker than normal while also greatly increasing his appetite.
Scabbard Crack - Augmented by Accelerator, Suzaku brings his still-sheathed sword down hard on an opponent's head. The force and precision can cause a hard bludgeoning blow that can disorient and confuse a helmeted foe and knock out an unarmored one, sometimes cracking their skull if hit in just the right place.
Ground Fang - Augmented by Accelerator, Suzaku makes a slash with the tip of his sword just barely touching the ground. The force of the strike flows quickly along the ground towards the target until it hits it or something in its path, which when hit the slash slices up from the ground to cut at the leg of the target. While still delivering the same force as a normal sword strike, it comes from a direction most fighters don't anticipate and the wound to a leg can throw an opponent off balance quickly.
Falling Starfield - Augmented by Accelerator, Suzaku leap into the air to bring his sheathed sword falling onto an enemy from the apex of his jump, giving it the maximum amount of force possible. While being hit by the initial attack is problem enough, the force of the ground being hit is enough to crack most surfaces. Suzaku then unsheathes the sword in a slash, sending debris flying from the force on a cone in front of him. This can hit multiple people, and while not always deadly if the targets are armored, they can still disorient or do some damage to unarmored body parts hit.
Combat Savant - The more Suzaku is in fights, the more his mind processes his experiences to derive new techniques and ways to improve his personal fighting style. After a certain amount of battles, he gains a new technique influenced by what happened during these battles.
Scythe Claws - If disarmed, Suzaku can use the claws on his paws and his fangs as nearly as lethal of weapons as his swords, striking with precision cutting power. The range is definitely a lot shorter, but unless his hands or head are cut off, he'll always have a weapon.
Scabbard Crack - Augmented by Accelerator, Suzaku brings his still-sheathed sword down hard on an opponent's head. The force and precision can cause a hard bludgeoning blow that can disorient and confuse a helmeted foe and knock out an unarmored one, sometimes cracking their skull if hit in just the right place.
Ground Fang - Augmented by Accelerator, Suzaku makes a slash with the tip of his sword just barely touching the ground. The force of the strike flows quickly along the ground towards the target until it hits it or something in its path, which when hit the slash slices up from the ground to cut at the leg of the target. While still delivering the same force as a normal sword strike, it comes from a direction most fighters don't anticipate and the wound to a leg can throw an opponent off balance quickly.
Falling Starfield - Augmented by Accelerator, Suzaku leap into the air to bring his sheathed sword falling onto an enemy from the apex of his jump, giving it the maximum amount of force possible. While being hit by the initial attack is problem enough, the force of the ground being hit is enough to crack most surfaces. Suzaku then unsheathes the sword in a slash, sending debris flying from the force on a cone in front of him. This can hit multiple people, and while not always deadly if the targets are armored, they can still disorient or do some damage to unarmored body parts hit.
Combat Savant - The more Suzaku is in fights, the more his mind processes his experiences to derive new techniques and ways to improve his personal fighting style. After a certain amount of battles, he gains a new technique influenced by what happened during these battles.
Scythe Claws - If disarmed, Suzaku can use the claws on his paws and his fangs as nearly as lethal of weapons as his swords, striking with precision cutting power. The range is definitely a lot shorter, but unless his hands or head are cut off, he'll always have a weapon.
Art Credit: https://bsky.app/profile/agtbusinessfish.bsky.social