Kaminari - Hattori Hayato

This canon was previously adopted and played. This character is very key to the Kaminari clan and very close to a played character @Kagami Suzaku. If adopted it is expected the new writer will stick to the spirit of this character, taking time to actually read the threads they were in to get a feel for how they interacted with other characters.  It will help if the writer is actually interested in Japanese culture/language since this character is very "traditional" in his nature.

Example thread where this character was played:

https://www.resonancerp.net/topic/4763-death-before-dishonor/

APPEARANCE

Hattori Hayato is a distinguished Japanese gentleman. He is in his early forties, but his appearance is that of a man perhaps ten years or more younger, an illusion made possible by good genes, the famous or infamous agelessness of the Asian people, and intense and regular exercise. He is more fit at this age, than he ever was, and more inured to extremes and pain than any man half his age. As good as he does look in a tailored black suit, with a very masculine V-line to his body, he would look just as at home in the traditional lacquered armor of a samurai. His eyes are dark, a black so deep they completely obscure his pupils, and turn his eyes in inky mirrors, reflecting nothing of the man within and everything they see. His complexion is naturally golden, clear and unmarred save for the extensive tattoos that cover most of his body. A key element to his tattoos is a traditional Japanese Earth Dragon, coiling over his right shoulder, slipping behind it and curling up under the arm to appear on his ribs. There are, of course, other elements to the traditional art upon his skin, but the only person in the Kaminari with more extensive art upon their skin is Suzaku, the Oyabun, herself.

PERSONALITY

Hattori Hayato is a traditionalist. He is strictly loyal to the leader of his family,  Suzaku. In Samurai terms, she is his Lord, and there is no one more important to him than her, and nothing more important than the safety and success of the Kaminari Yakuza Clan. Hayato is dedicated, and tends towards quiet command, which means when he does have something to say, most everyone listens. He can be disapproving of breaks with tradition, despite the modern age, but he is not unaware of the feeling of Family and blood ties. Familiarity can breed insubordination, and in Clan business, he believes tradition serves all of them best. Hayato is not above sharing a joke with his men on an operation, where levity is called for, particularly in an offensive operation, camaraderie is encourages, but respect and status always enforced. He holds his emotions close to the vest, and might seem unfeeling at times, but the opposite is true. Hayato is a deep feeling man, which is why he hides them behind a veneer of traditionalism.

PERSONAL BELONGINGS

Hattori Family Katana; much to Hayato’s annoyance, this blade has been fictionalized in film. It is the sword once held by Hattori Hanzo, a 17th-Century Samurai most famous for working with the Iga Ninja clans in the defense of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. It is the very same blade, and Hayato has cared for it for most of his life.

Suzuki Hayabusa

APPROVED ABILITIES

Earth Control and Manipulation; Āsudoragon

Hattori Hayato has a Gift that he has possessed since the Resonance, and as Fate would have it, it ties him to the Earth as much as his tattoos do. It has earned him the epithet ‘The Earth Dragon’, but he wears it with pride. This Gift allows him to move Earth, Soul, and Rock using a number of techniques that are detailed below. There are, of course, limitations to this ability, and while his focus and dedication allowed him to progress in its use, the Gift has become tightly bound to his personal philosophy and Martial Arts.

Blanket/Inherent Weakness; These limitations apply across the board to all of his ‘Techniques’.

1) Hayato must be able to move. The motions are typically movements from Aikido and other arts, sometimes katas that the knowledgeable will recognize, but he must be able to move. If he is bound, or incapacitated, he cannot use his Ability. He is capable of minor feats, flicking a pebble across a room with a wave of his hand, for example, but even then, he MUST be able to move. Movement functions as a meditative and thematic focus for him, and without, he cannot move anything.

2) All material moved must be natural. Processed steels, concrete, and other man-made materials, despite their original earthly derivation CANNOT be moved or worked with. This also means that if he must pull Earth or Stone through concrete, it can take time for him to access. If he is surrounded by metal or steel, he cannot use his Gift at all. All metals are inert to him, as would be wood, and glass – glass being processed silicate, and thus in another form entirely. This does not mean he can affect Earth beyond these kinds of barriers, he cannot. For example, if the floor were even an inch of solid steel, he could not access the earth beneath it, unless there was a hole in it or some kind of aperture he could make use of.

3) Extensive and Focused use of his Gift has a debilitation effect on his body. As use of the Gift brings him closer and closer to his element, his body begins to slow and stiffen. His reaction times degrade, until he is eventually unable to move, unless he leaves of use of his Gift for a full day.

Movement of Earth and Stone;

Hayato, through the use of his will and the performance of certain katas, can lift pieces of earth and stone and propel them with damaging and even deadly force. Seeming, they are propelled by punches and kicks. Limit: He can propel objects of his element weighing up to 300 pounds without difficulty, anything beyond that takes too long to move under combat conditions and cannot be attempted.

Blocks of Earth;

Hayato can pull up perfectly square blocks of stone or earth, and use them to either block attacks, or as an attack. This operates the same as the Movement of Earth and Stone, but allows him to actually create his projectiles rather than simply lifting and hurling earth/boulders that may be lying around. He can lift the earth and compact it to a dense mud wall before sending it exploding away from him.

Spikes or Columns of Earth;

A more powerful attack than simply propelling a projectile; this causes a spike or column of earth to suddenly sprout from the ground or wall, if it is the right material, with great force. It can be used to create interlocking shapes, and even propel Hattori in jumping, if he performs the technique under his own feet. Limit: Earth is not being lifted, so much as shaped, allowing for greater volume and speed, a single spike or column can weigh as much 450 pound, and reach a height of up to 25 feet.

Earth Launch;

As mentioned above, Hayato can move Earth beneath his feet and hurl himself up to 30 feet into the air, in nearly any direction where there is the proper material, Earth and Stone, to allow for it.

Wall of Earth;

Hayato can create a solid wall, quickly, about a foot thick whose total weight is roughly 450 pounds, and he can very thickness height, and width. Roughly he can make a wall a foot thick, six feet in height, and about ten feet across. Once erected, he can then use the material as he sees fit. He can make a larger wall, doubling those dimensions, but then cannot use his Gift for at least an hour, or he risks stiffening.

Manipulation of Earth-based materials;

His ability to manipulate materials is not purely limited to natural earth and rock or soil; he can work with earth-based natural materials, coal, gems, crystals and other earth-based minerals, like meteorite rock. However, dense materials, like diamond, require a greater focus and effort to change in shape, and the density of a diamond or other highly dense material cannot be altered, only its shape. The latter requires concentration and concerted constant effort, which risks the stiffening of his joints as with other focused efforts.

Quicksand;

In a localized area, no greater than six feet by six feet, and about three feet in depth, Hayato can turn the earth material into soft quicksand, loose sand that would cause an object or person to sink. He is capable of doing so in a very localized are as small as only a foot in diameter.

Earth or Rock Clinging;

If a vertical surface has enough Earth in it, Hayato can cling to those surfaces with his feet or hands. His feet, for this to work, would have to be bare. Limit: it must be the natural materials mentioned above, he cannot, for example, climb up a skyscraper in this manner.

Earthquake or Bomb;

Earthquake is a low level ripple, extending in all directions, for about 10 to 20 feet; tiring but entirely useful in battle. Less damaging, but can unbalance most foes, and rattle his immediate surroundings as though struck by a low level quake.

Bomb is an extremely damaging and tiring technique that would likely mean Hayato could not use his Gifts for the rest of that day. Hayato can, slam down upon the Earth, sending a earthquake like wave in every direction around him, causing massive amounts of damage, and knocking everyone in range off their feet. Thus far, this is a circle around him extending to about forty feet. Headaches and nosebleeds are not uncommon results of this particular feat, and it cannot be repeated until resting and recuperating for a full day or more. He cannot use his ability during this time, and will be stiff in his joints for the following day.

APPROVED SKILLS

Aikido (5th dan); Aikido is rooted in Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu, and is strongly influenced by kenjutsu. It is said that the proper aikido student moves very much like and empty-handed swordsman. This is a martial art that uses the attacker’s strength against him, blending with the assailant, rather than meeting brute force with brute force. There is a strong emphasis on joint-locks as well as throwing, though there are plenty of strikes as well. This art here footwork, positioning, and timing are key elements ties very firmly into Hayato’s preternatural gifts.

Kenjutsu/Kendo; these would seem to be similar art forms, but they differ slightly in philosophy. Kenjutsu means the ‘Art of the Sword’ and is traditionally practiced with bokken. It is a ‘sparring’ art, best done with a partner, through its constant practice, even a ‘wooden katana’ or bokken can become a deadly weapon. Kendo means ‘way of the sword’, and thus differs philosophically from its cousin, Kenjutsu. It is the proper art of sword-fighting, a Samurai art, practice her involves a live blade.

Iajutsu/Iado; very similar again, only different in philosophy as with most of the arts that have changed from ‘Art of’ to ‘Way of’, the latter implying a more spiritual component. Both are true, in this case this art and way is about ‘mental presence and immediate reaction’. In practice, it is essentially the art of the quickdraw of a blade or katana, striking or cutting a target, removing the blood, and smoothly replacing the blade or katana in its scabbard.

Battojutsu; the precursor to Iajutsu and its philosophical adherents, this art is specifically about the ‘Art of drawing a sword’, and shared similarities with the arts of readiness, but requires specific and efficient practice with the katana very specifically. The ideal strike in this art involves the following; draw and strike in one flowing motion smoothly and cleaning/sheathing immediately thereafter. The key word here is efficiency.

Bushido; Hayato is extremely knowledgeable in the ‘Way of the Warrior’. It has been said that those dedicated to Bushido can endure great pain or discomfort without complaint, and are exemplary students of the sword or bow. Hayato’s focus is on the sword. Similar to a code of chivalry, but entirely Japanese, Bushdio emphasizes braver and loyalty to one’s lord, something he exemplifies in his loyalty to Suzaku.

Art History; an emphasis on Japanese art and Culture, but an overall foundation as well. Publicly, he acts as Curator for the Guggenheim, and has much applied and practical knowledge in this field.

Samurai Arts; Bushido does not allow a warrior to simply focus on the martial arts, they are meant to and must engage other arts as well. Hayato follows this example. He is a skilled calligraphist, and some of his work hangs in the Guggenheim as modern example of the skill. He is amongst the Post-Shift world’s foremost Origami masters, and is fond of making objects d’art from mundane things, such as paper dollar bills. And, while he rarely displays this art, he is a skilled Kabuki player and dancer, which he felt was a foundation as it is the historical root of the modern Yakuza. This also includes being skilled with various strategy games, including Go, a very traditional Japanese game of stones.

Japanese Healing Arts; among the skills expected of a Samurai. What one can kill or injure, one should be expected to help or heal. In this vein, Hayato has considerable skill in Shiatsu. Shiatsu is a also called ‘finger pressure’ and is a form of massage meant to encourage the flow of ‘qi’ or energy through the body. It is a spiritual and physical healing art, that has proven effects in improving the tone and function of muscles, nerves, blood vessels, the lymph nodes and endocrine system, as well as internal organs. It can encourage the elimination of toxins and waste in the body, as well as relieve hypertension, headaches, insomnia, nausea, and even skeletal pain. It couples well with Aikido, and the knowledge of the human body to stop or harm an assailant, as well as heal them when the battle is done.

Firearms; tends to disdain their regular use, but is skilled with them, particularly their dismantling in close combat. Prefers pistols, to long arms.

Qualified Motocross Racer; enjoys fast bikes and fast cars.

APPROVED HISTORY

Hattori Hayato is the eldest living member of a distinguished Samurai family that went into decline shortly before WWII, descended from the legendary Oni no Hanzo, Hattori Hanzo. They emerged beyond that conflict much smaller and less wealthy than before, and merged their destinies with that of the Kaminari Yakuza clan. Hayato’s own father once served as the Lieutenant for the Yakuza Boss that took in the young Kagami Suzaku, though she was called Wong Aiko at the start. He remembers her, even as he was being inducted into the Family tradition, and the needs of the Clan. He was a warrior born, and trained, and even in his youth, he possessed unusual focus and determination.

His fortunes seemed to rise in parallel with the woman that would become his Oyabun, though he was unaware of it at the time. He made his kills, performed his duties, with consummate skill. He performed for Family, and for Clan, and upheld the traditions that he believed made their Family strong and successful. Even after his Father was killed during an assassination attempt on the then Oyabun, he remained steadfast and loyal. He had no designs on taking his Father’s place, that was though to go to a man named Masaru, but instead the Oyabun elevated the woman, the orphan he had discovered on the streets. Hayato had always been aware of Suzaku, of course, but until that moment, they had been operating on nearly the same level of status. Now, she was his superior, and ever the traditionalist, Hayato fell in line.

Hayato personally bore witness to several duels between the favored 1st Lieutenant and the 2nd, and he was always impressed that not only to Kagami Suzaku defeat Masaru, she did so with honor, skill, and grace, never killing him where other men surely would have. He took it as a sign of wisdom, rather than weakness, an effort to keep the Clan together, rather than fracturing it along the line of those loyal to the Oyabun and those loyal to Masaru. Hayato continued to rise in the esteem of his Clan, and never once did he display unseemly ambition for the rank that his Father had once held and lost through honorable death. Instead, he sought recognition through exemplary service, honor through educating their newer members, and training them. He became quite well known for his skills, and his patience, as well as his seemingly cool exterior.

Then the Nevus event happened, and the Oyabun was murdered. Hayato was too knowledgeable to believe it was an accident or a result of the world changing. He knew that Masaru had killed the Oyabun to fill that vacuum of power himself, and to turn against his hated rival, Kagami Suzaku. Hattori Hayato was sworn to serve the Oyabun, with that man’s death, he swore to serve his Wakagashira, who by rights, should have become Kumicho. When it became clear that their Family was fractured and falling apart, Hayato began to advise escape, even as he becaome Suzaku’s staunchest defender, save the lady herself.

When she chose to leave Japan to start her own Family, he never hesitated. He went with her, and in turn, became her First Lieutenant, her Wakagashira. He has served in that role ever since. Hattori Hayato will serve in that capacity until his death, or heavens forbid, the death of his Kumicho.

Publicly, he is the curator of the Guggenheim, purchased by the Yakuza to serve as their front and headquarters. She might have changed her name since their days in Japan, but she would always command his loyalty, and perhaps more than that.