[ Application ] - Prismatica

[heiwana]

▶ PLAYER
HANDLE: Levy
CONTACT: plurk; pathogenic
OVER 18? Sure am!
CHARACTERS IN-GAME: Takato Wakahisa

▶ CHARACTER
NAME: Kousetsu Samonji
CANON: Touken Ranbu
CANON POINT: He'll be coming from the 8th level – Memory of Aonogahara
AGE: 800+
BACKGROUND: His historical background | His game profile

And the game’s basic outline is a Saniwa sage from 2205 travels back into the past to destroy an evil that desires to change the course of history. The sage has the ability to bring life into inanimate objects, which includes various historically famous swords. In doing this they essentially create an army to fight off the evil in the past.

PERSONALITY:

Upon first meeting Kousetsu one can surmise that the man is quiet, withdrawn, and rather emotionless. Kousetsu also has a calmness about him that is easily applied due to his history and his previous owners. He’s actually very kind and very peaceful when you get to know him.

”If there is fighting, one side will drown in sorrow no matter what.”

He’s one of the few swords so far who has a strong aversion towards fighting, and it’s not surprising given who his owners were. Kousetsu is more of a talk through one’s problems than fight through them, as he was Itabeoka Kousetsusai sword for a period of time. Itabeoka Kousetsusai was a devout Buddhist who was known for his amazing negotiation skills. Many of the principles followed by him are also embedded into Kousetsu as well. Just from the various dialogue given to us Kousetsu hates fighting but he’s not adverse to hardwork or getting dirty by any means.

“Earning one's keep by spilling sweat. This is a pleasant way to live, isn't it.”

Kousetsu enjoys hard work and labor if it’s clean and doesn’t involve fighting. Just like many Buddhist monks who enjoy similar aspects of their lives, Kousetsu enjoys peace, serenity and life. This quote is a key aspect to showing that side of him: ”Being able to be touched by all living things is salvation.”

Kousetsu mentions sorrow quite a bit but that’s not because he’s emo or anything like that.

"The world is filled with sorrow."

His token phrase is spoken because it comes from a key point in Buddhism, which teaches that the world is truly filled with suffering. This isn’t meant as a pessimistic viewpoint but more along a realistic one. The realism it teaches ways to avoid mental suffering in general, which is caused by humans envy, pride, desires and that leads to frustration, disappointment and anger. This might be the reason why Kousetsu is portrayed as being devoid of emotion because these teachings are meant to keep Buddhists away from such things. Instead they take on a different stance, which is called impermanence. Impermanence basically teaches that one should not cling to their achievements nor the joy they bring because it can lead to sorrow and unhappiness. Instead one should just cherish the chances of happiness they can obtain and seek to continue to strive for them. This might also be a reason why Kousetsu fights and protects people in the first place. The other swords that fight alongside him bring him happiness therefore fighting alongside them will continue to bring more chances of happiness. Which leads to another aspect of his personality.

”I may hate fighting... but I have no intention of being killed without resisting...!”

This quote might stem from something called the first precept of Buddhism. This precept teaches that one should not take the life of living beings before trying to attempt a peaceful resolution first. Violence is only to be used if absolutely necessary and this probably the reason why Kousetsu detests fighting, but also why he fights and strives to keep himself alive despite his aversion towards the act. He will defend himself and not allow himself to be killed, which is following the first precept in the strictest sense.

In terms of him and his siblings given his values and the state of his other brothers I figure Kousetsu would be very understanding and helpful towards his siblings. Often helping them and lending an ear whenever he could. Given that he's a very calm individual he likes to help those in need or those who are otherwise shaken.

"Me, who is avoiding fighting, making tools for war. ... how ironic."

Even Kousetsu himself recognizes his own irony in this entire thing, and yet he still continues forward to help the saniwa. It’s his duty and his fierce loyalty to the saniwa that makes him fight in the war going on within Touken Ranbu at all. Which is another aspect of his personality, but one that all the swords share in regards to their new master.

However Kousetsu’s loyalty and participation within the war creates a sort of dissonance within his character that none of the other swords share. A sword spirit that doesn’t like to fight is like a car that doesn’t drive. But perhaps Kousetsu is a good reminder that fighting is not always everything and even in times of war one can find peace and refuge. In general Kousetsu tries to get along with his fellow sword spirits, and help them as much as he is able, he tries to fight despite hating it and continues throughout life as if it were a river, constantly changing and always in a state of fluctuation.

POWERS/ABILITIES:

Kousetsu is a tachi type’d sword. Tachi swords are well balanced and have heavy attack power. Kousetsu’s impact stat, or his power stat, is one of the highest being at 72 meaning that he can take out enemies with one hit. However he is pretty slow with his mobility only at a 37, which often means he hits last in terms of the game. There’s also something called Shinken Hissatsu, which is also referred to as Awakening, where the sword will get a boost of power increasing both damage and accuracy. It’s tied into the killing blow stat, which Kousetsu has a 30 for meaning he sometimes preforms it but it’s not very high.

Also he’s rather good at fieldwork, cooking and dealing with animals.

INVENTORY: His true form, his prayer beads, and a change of clothes!

MOONBLESSING: Iris