Shinigami; Racial Development

Shinigami:



Shinigami (死神, "death god(s)"; Viz "Soul Reaper(s)") are a race of spiritual beings that act as enforcers and psychopomps who all share similar supernatural powers. Shinigami use their Zanpakutō to perform soul burials on Pluses. Shinigami also use their Zanpakutō and Kidō to fight Hollows.

They are souls with a high level of innate Spiritual Energy, recruited from the ranks of the residents and nobility of Soul Society. Their bodies are composed of Reishi instead of atoms. This means that just like most other types of spirits, they can only be seen by other spiritually aware entities, which excludes most Humans. Nevertheless, they are quite capable of influencing their environment. When souls with exceptional spiritual energy train their bodies, they reach the level of Shinigami. The most talented of them become affiliated with various organizations like the Gotei 13 and the Onmitsukidō. Sometimes, a Shinigami is born among the residents of the Rukongai, and in some rare cases from Seireitei.

Shinigami are the personification of death. Their job is to send spirits to the Soul Society (the afterlife) in order to maintain a balance of souls between it and the material world, and to exorcise evil spirits. Because of their duties Shinigami possesses supernatural abilities such as:

• Longevity: While they can age and die of natural causes or as a result of physical injury as regular humans, Shinigami have extended life-spans and it is not uncommon for one to live for thousands of years.
  
  
• Enhanced Endurance: While they can be injured and die like regular humans, it takes considerably greater injuries for the latter to occur than it would in regular humans.
  
  
• Reiryoku: Shinigami also naturally give off Spiritual Energy, which varies greatly in magnitude with the strength of a Shinigami. Additionally, unlike humans, they do not have to eat anything to sustain themselves, though they engage in the act none the less as Shinigami and other spiritual beings only become hungry when they used too much Spiritual Energy within a short amount of time.
  
  
• Kidō: The technique that Shinigami use to focus their Spiritual Energy into magic spells of various powers.
  
  
• Hohō: A variety of techniques associated with movement, including jumping and shunpo (flash step).
  
  
• Zanpakutō: The most prominent supernatural power possessed by a Shinigami is their Zanpakutō, a supernatural sword (which can be in the form of any kind of Japanese sword) generated from the Shinigami's soul. A Zanpakutō is a physical manifestation of this force concentrated into a blade. All Shinigami have a Zanpakutō, but not all of them carry one with them.

Shinigami operations are based out of the Soul Society, where departed human souls reside. Travel between the Human World and Soul Society is extremely limited and monitored, but some Shinigami are stationed in the human world to carry out their duties and therefore must often travel between the two. It is also implied that Shinigami receive salaries, like workers in the real world.

Most Shinigami appear like Humans, a notable difference being their mostly old-fashioned garments by 20th-21th century standards (see Gotei 13 Uniforms and Onmitsukidō Uniforms), and their Zanpakutō which is in most cases tied to their obi sash.

There are, however, a few Shinigami who are less Human-like in appearance. For example it seems that between Shinigami there are much greater variations in body-sizes than between Humans, as there are real giant-like entities (e. g. the four guards of the four gates to Seireitei) and ones with extremely small stature among them (e. g. Yachiru Kusajishi). This variation seems to occur not just between Shinigami, but also between regular dwellers of Soul Society, too.

Variations do not just occur in size but in overall appearance, too, the most notable example being Captain Sajin Komamura, who appears like an anthropomorphic canine.

• Konsō (魂葬, Soul Burial): the process by which a Shinigami sends wandering Pluses (souls) in the living world and send them to their respective place. Either Soul Society if they are good in life, or to Hell if their life was full of evil acts (such as murders, theft, etc). Konsō is performed by using the hilt of the Shinigami's Zanpakutō, tapping the soul on the head and transporting them to the afterlife.
  
  
• Hollow Cleansing: When a Shinigami slays a Hollow (evil spirit) with their Zanpakutō, they cleanse their sins. Once this takes place, a Hollow will return to its former state as a Plus and is led into Soul Society. This is called sublimation. Souls that live in Soul Society are reborn again into the human world. Not all Hollows are sent to the Soul Society. Since Zanpakutō are only capable of cleansing sins committed after becoming a Hollow, Hollows that committed serious crimes when they were still Human are sent to Hell when they are slain.
  
  
• Soul Governance: Shinigami are responsible for governing the flow of spirits between the Human World and Soul Society. This is commonly carried out by balancing the total number of souls by moving and managing them in the human world. All of the soul-related jobs are under their authority.

Zanpaktou:



A Zanpakutō (斬魄刀; literally, soul-cutter sword) is the main weapon of the Shinigami, the Arrancar and the Visored. The art of wielding a Zanpakutō is called Zanjutsu (斬術; literally, swordsmanship). Zanpakutō are the trademark weapons of the Shinigami. Capable of cutting spiritual bodies, they are amongst the few weapons which can be used to combat Hollows. Each Shinigami carries a Zanpakutō, and each Zanpakutō is unique: as the swords are both reflections of a Shinigami's soul and power, and sentient beings unto themselves. The Zanpakutō's name is also the name of the living spirit that empowers the sword and lends its strength to the Shinigami who wields it. These beings can vary greatly in appearance and have their own distinct personalities which match their owner's. Normally, the Zanpakutō spirit can only be seen by its wielder. Otherwise, they dwell in their own "inner world", created within the minds of the Shinigami who wield them. As such, each Shinigami's inner world is drastically different from another Shinigami's and is unique to themselves. A Zanpakutō's spirit can bring its wielder into its inner world, though Shinigami can voluntarily achieve this simply by meditation.

A Zanpakutō's shape and abilities are based on their Shinigami's soul. Once a Shinigami learns his/her sword's name, they are able to communicate with one another and grow stronger together. Zanpakutō are born with their Shinigami and they die along with their Shinigami. Shinigami use them in battle as a reflection of their heart. When released, they can display a vibrant power. They are one with the Shinigami, and they share a Shinigami's conviction. Asauchi (浅打ち; literally, "shallow hit"): The class of nameless Zanpakutō that all low-class Shinigami wield. Shinigami who are still in training - those who do not yet belong to any of the Gotei 13 - all wield generic Zanpakutō. Shinigami who are unable to communicate with their Zanpakutō, the "shallow hit", which refers to the grossly reduced power of a Zanpakutō whose wielder cannot connect with it properly.

• Because they are part of their owner's soul, a Zanpakutō cannot be replaced, though it will slowly regenerate if it is broken.
  
• The Zanpakutō size reflects the amount of the swordsman's spiritual power.
  
• If a Shinigami pierces the chest of a human with their Zanpakutō and channels their Reiryoku through it into the Human's body, it will transform that human into a Shinigami temporarily. The act does not have a high chance of viability even when the human in question has a high level of spiritual energy, and if the method does fail the human will die.
  
• Every Zanpakutō has its own name.
  
• A Zanpakutō can determine whether or not its wielder is worthy of its power.
  
• Normally, even a broken Zanpakutō would return to its original state as its wielder recovered.
  
• Zanpakutō have a true form. This true form resides inside their Shinigami. A Zanpakutō has a mind, and a body that controls their powers. Shinigami are able to grow more powerful by communicating with them.
  
• Zanpakutō possess their own reiatsu, which can be sensed as any reiatsu can and is identical to that of their wielder though with subtle differences.
  
• Though rare, it is not impossible for more than one soul to be attuned to the same spirit. In such cases, ancient law of the Soul Society will not allow two beings to wield the same Zanpakutō, in which case, they must duel for ownership of the spirit, with the winner gaining it and the loser being sentenced to death.
  
• No matter what form (or size) a Zanpakutō takes, it is always virtually effortless for its owner to wield because it is a part of its owner's soul. Shinigami captains all consciously keep their Zanpakutō in a manageable size, otherwise they would be holding Zanpakutō the size of skyscrapers. Therefore, one cannot judge one's opponent's strength solely by the size of their Zanpakutō
  
• Dual-Blade Type: Zanpakutō that feature more than one blade in Shikai release. It is decidedly rare for one to possess such a weapon and therefore it says a lot about the uniqueness of its wielder's spiritual power.

Wielding a Zanpakutō is more than a simple matter of skill in swordsmanship. Since the swords themselves are alive, a Shinigami must obtain his or her sword's co-operation to truly maximize its performance. This can be done in a variety of ways, though it seems that the orthodox approach involves subjugating the sword; the Shinigami belonging to the Thirteen Divisions keep their swords sealed into the forms of ordinary katana and have strict rules about when and where they are allowed to release their true forms. Keeping a sword in its unsealed form all the time seems to be considered gauche, as a sign of carelessness and/or inexperience. The Shinigami also use certain phrases when they activate their swords, which appear to be necessary to release the seals keeping the swords' powers bound. These are always phrased as commands, further emphasizing the "subjugation" aspect of Zanpakutō control. Most swords have at least one, though some Shinigami use more than one to command their weapons. It is not enough to simply know the name of one's Zanpakutō. If a wielder were to lend its power to its Zanpakutō then the weapon would become stronger. To fully use a Zanpakutō's power, a wielder must get to know its Zanpakutō's spirit.

• Jinzen (刃禅, Blade Zen): This method is the only way to carry on a proper conversation with one's Zanpakutō. One places their sword over their lap and takes a meditative pose and then forces their mind to become one with the Zanpakutō.

In this form, one can call out the true form of the powers of their Zanpakutō. This form is something that Soul Society has worked out over the thousands of years since its formation. It is entirely about speaking with one's sword. This advanced form of training is far different from attaining abilities by force. In this form it is about entering a state of calm to enter the inner world of the Zanpakutō and engage them there. In this state a wielder will have to fight their Zanpakutō spirit in order to attain access to new abilities, the Zanpakutō spirit does not want to teach these moves and engage the wielder in a battle the likes of which has never taken place before. In this meditative state, one is so deeply entranced that even sustained wounds are ignored. Any form of injury sustained in the inner world while in this meditative state is reflective in the real world.

Depending upon the Shinigami's ability to communicate with and control their Zanpakutō's spirit, a Zanpakutō can manifest itself in two additional forms and revert to a sealed state. These two forms, known as Shikai and Bankai, are akin to "upgrades" for the Zanpakutō, giving it abilities far beyond that of its simple use as a sword. Shinigami usually carry their Zanpakutō in the sealed state and activate the released forms as necessary. All Zanpakutō have two levels of release. The first one is Shikai (initial release) and the second one is Bankai (final release). One must be able to do both of them to become a captain. The power and forms of Shikai and Bankai are dependent on the Zanpakutō. They also vary according to the wielder's strength and training. Sealed Most Zanpakutō look like regular katana, with slight variations between them as one would expect between different swords. Their variations are commonly:

• Katana (刀): The term katana may be applied to the standard-size, moderately curved, Japanese sword with a blade length of greater than 60 cm (23.6 inches). The katana is characterized by its distinctive appearance: a curved, slender, single-edged blade, a circular or squared guard, and a hilt long enough to accommodate two hands.
  
• Wakizashi (脇差 (わきざし); meaning "side insertion"): A short blade between 30 and 60 cm (12 and 24 inches), with an average of 50 cm (20 inches). It is similar to but shorter than a katana, and usually shorter than the kodachi (小太刀 (こだち); meaning "small sword"). The wakizashi was usually worn together with the katana. When worn together the pair of swords were called daishō, which translates literally as "large and small". The katana was often called the long sword and the wakizashi the companion sword.
  
• Nodachi (野太刀 (のだち); meaning "field sword"): The nodachi was more difficult to wield due to its size and weight. The length of the nodachi's hilt varied between twelve to thirteen inches (30 to 33 centimeters). Its cutting capability and range exceeds that of a katana, due to its weight and size.

Shikai and Bankai:

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RTM0XK4TSA

To Gain Shikai Requires that you be a level 3 Shinigami, When Shikai is Released you Gain Three Powers that must be Based around your Zanpaktou's Type and General Idea and form. As well, Shikai Grants a +50 to all of the User's Stats Temporarily, this Bonus is Removed when Shikai is Sealed or when the user Enters Bankai instead. Power's can Grant Further +'s to Stats However it Caps at a Bonus +25 and can only be on one of the three Powers. To Gain this you must Post Your Zanapktou Spirit, their Type (Kidou, or Mele, Poison, or Elemental), and then the Three Powers that you wish to have, the Release Phrase, What it looks like, and then your Three Powers Beneath such. Use the Below Format to do this. I will then (Or a Co-Admin will) Examine it, and Balance as necessary, until we are content with it, we will then approve it and add it to your character's profile, Once you have posted a 3000 Word Solo thread of your Bankai Training, or a 2000 Word thread of your Training with another. (Note: you must have 2000 they dont have a word Cap to reach unless they too are trying to obtain Shikai, in which case they must meet the 2000 word requirement as well.)

Code:

[u]Shikai Name[/u]: (The name of your Shikai, such as Zabimaru)
[u]Shikai Release Phrase[/u]: (What is said to release your shikai, such as Howl Zabimaru)
[u]Description of Shikai[/u]: (What your shikai looks like released, may include a picture, as well as 3-4 lines of description)

[list][*]Power One[/u]: Name
Description[/u]: (3-4 Lines of what the Power Itself Does when used)
Effect[/u]: (If it gives Bonuses to a Stat, say so here, if it has Power Equal to a Kidou or energy attack place it here, if it has Nether of these Effects place N/A isntead. The effect will then go by the Roleplay of the Description)

[*]Power Two[/u]: Name
Description[/u]: (3-4 Lines of what the Power Itself Does when used)
Effect[/u]: (If it gives Bonuses to a Stat, say so here, if it has Power Equal to a Kidou or energy attack place it here, if it has Nether of these Effects place N/A isntead. The effect will then go by the Roleplay of the Description)

[*]Power Three[/u]: Name
Description[/u]: (3-4 Lines of what the Power Itself Does when used)
Effect[/u]: (If it gives Bonuses to a Stat, say so here, if it has Power Equal to a Kidou or energy attack place it here, if it has Nether of these Effects place N/A isntead. The effect will then go by the Roleplay of the Description)[/list]

The Shikai (始解, Initial Release) is the second form (or first "upgraded" form) available to a Zanpakutō. To activate it, the Shinigami needs to learn the name of their Zanpakutō. This is not as easy as simply picking a name, as the living spirit of the Zanpakutō already has its own name. Therefore, the Shinigami must be able to communicate and harmonize with their Zanpakutō effectively, which requires being able to speak to the spirit within its world. A Zanpakutō can change size and shape depending on the spiritual strength of the owner.

Achievement of the Shikai is a mark of control of a Zanpakutō, and it appears to be a requirement for advancement within the Shinigami ranks, as presumably most seated officers are capable of Shikai. It is also required in order to achieve the rank of lieutenant; as it is a requirement most captains look for. After first learning the Zanpakutō's name, the Shikai can be performed at will simply by speaking a command followed by the Zanpakutō's name. The commands vary between users and range from a simple imperative verb to a short poem. They often relate to the Zanpakutō's signature ability, or hint at the nature of its spirit. This step may be bypassed by expert Shinigami who have learned how to use their Bankai.

• Constant-Release: In rare cases, a Zanpakutō, once released, will remain in that state indefinitely. This is due to the vast amount of spiritual energy the possessor has that cannot be finely controlled upon initial generation of their Zanpakutō, as such the Zanpakutō is described as a constant released form. The only known Shinigami with Full-Time Release Zanpakutō are Ichigo Kurosaki and Kenpachi Zaraki. By the nature of this type of Zanpakutō, a Shinigami with a constant release form does not need a release command nor is it necessary to even know their Zanpakutō's name. However, not knowing the name of one's Zanpakutō can put a Shinigami at a disadvantage in terms of power against those who do know their Zanpakutō's name.
  
  
• Shikai Forms: Once the Shikai is activated, the Zanpakutō will change form to access whatever special abilities it is capable of. They almost always take on the form of a weapon of some kind, though the type of weapon can vary greatly among different Zanpakutō. One exception is Retsu Unohana's Shikai, which seems to take on the characteristics of an animal, rather than a weapon.
  
  
• Special Abilities: Once the Shikai is activated, the Zanpakutō will change form to access whatever special abilities it is capable of. The special abilities of the Zanpakutō, like the Zanpakutō itself, have specific names that usually must be announced to fully activate the effect. As Ichigo's Zanpakutō, Zangetsu, explains, knowing the name of an attack and not knowing it makes a very drastic difference in the amount of power that attack utilizes. Some special abilities are automatically activated upon release.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gBWSsMo0-E

To Gain Bankai Requires that you be a level 6 Shinigami, When Shikai is Released you Gain Three Powers that must be Based around your Zanpaktou's Type and General Idea and form. As well, Shikai Grants a +100 to all of the User's Stats Temporarily, this Bonus is Removed when Shikai is Sealed or when the user Enters Bankai instead. Power's can Grant Further +'s to Stats However it Caps at a Bonus +50 and can only be on one of the Five Powers. To Gain this you must Post Your Zanapktou Spirit, their Type (Kidou, or Mele, Poison, or Elemental), and then the Five Powers that you wish to have, the Release Phrase, What it looks like, and then your Five Powers Beneath such. Use the Below Format to do this. I will then (Or a Co-Admin will) Examine it, and Balance as necessary, until we are content with it, we will then approve it and add it to your character's profile, Once you have posted a 6000 Word Solo thread of your Bankai Training, or a 5000 Word thread of your Training with another. (Note: you must have 5000 they dont have a word Cap to reach unless they too are trying to obtain Bankai, in which case they must meet the 5000 word requirement as well.)

Code:

[u]Bankai Name[/u]: (The name of your Bankai such as Tensa Zangetsu)
[u]Bankai Release Phrase[/u]: (What is said to release your Bankai, always 'Bankai' followed by your Bankai's full name)
[u]Description of Bankai[/u]: (What your Bankai looks like released, may include a picture, as well as 5-6 lines of description)

[list][*]Power One[/u]: Name
Description[/u]: (3-4 Lines of what the Power Itself Does when used)
Effect[/u]: (If it gives Bonuses to a Stat, say so here, if it has Power Equal to a Kidou or energy attack place it here, if it has Nether of these Effects place N/A isntead. The effect will then go by the Roleplay of the Description)

[*]Power Two[/u]: Name
Description[/u]: (3-4 Lines of what the Power Itself Does when used)
Effect[/u]: (If it gives Bonuses to a Stat, say so here, if it has Power Equal to a Kidou or energy attack place it here, if it has Nether of these Effects place N/A isntead. The effect will then go by the Roleplay of the Description)

[*]Power Three[/u]: Name
Description[/u]: (3-4 Lines of what the Power Itself Does when used)
Effect[/u]: (If it gives Bonuses to a Stat, say so here, if it has Power Equal to a Kidou or energy attack place it here, if it has Nether of these Effects place N/A isntead. The effect will then go by the Roleplay of the Description)

[*]Power Four[/u]: Name
Description[/u]: (3-4 Lines of what the Power Itself Does when used)
Effect[/u]: (If it gives Bonuses to a Stat, say so here, if it has Power Equal to a Kidou or energy attack place it here, if it has Nether of these Effects place N/A isntead. The effect will then go by the Roleplay of the Description)

[*]Power Five[/u]: Name
Description[/u]: (3-4 Lines of what the Power Itself Does when used)
Effect[/u]: (If it gives Bonuses to a Stat, say so here, if it has Power Equal to a Kidou or energy attack place it here, if it has Nether of these Effects place N/A isntead. The effect will then go by the Roleplay of the Description)[/list]

The Bankai (卍解, Final Release) is the second and final upgraded form of a Zanpakutō. To achieve Bankai, one must be able to materialize and subjugate their Zanpakutō spirit. Materialization means the opposite of getting dragged into the Zanpakutō's inner world. Instead the wielder needs to summon the Zanpakutō's spirit into the physical world. It usually takes 10 years or more to achieve, plus the experience needed to master it.

The power and forms of Shikai and Bankai are dependent on the Zanpakutō. They also vary according to the wielder's strength and training. But in general, one's power can grow 5 to 10 times greater. Only the strongest Shinigami can use it. It is also the ultimate technique of a Zanpakutō. Even the Four noble families, whose members are always exceptionally talented, have a member capable of Bankai only every few generations. Those who achieve Bankai always have remarkable roles in the history of Soul Society.

Ichigo Kurosaki and Kisuke Urahara are the only known individuals that have mastered Bankai through a far shorter, yet much more dangerous method. Using a special device created by Urahara, which forcibly materializes a Zanpakutō spirit (thus bypassing a large portion of the training), they were able to attain their Bankai within three days instead of the normal hundreds of years. After successfully testing the device and achieving Bankai, Urahara stated that training by using this method for more than three consecutive days could prove to be fatal, which is why Ichigo was also forced to achieve his own Bankai within three days.

• Bankai Forms: After a Shinigami is able to materialize and subjugate their Zanpakutō's spirit, the Zanpakutō can assume its final and most powerful form. Unlike the Shikai, there is no command phrase to activate Bankai, though the user will usually say "Bankai" beforehand. A Zanpakutō's Bankai is often a manifestation of the spirit itself, usually creating a massive creature or a very powerful effect to aid the user in battle (Ichigo's Bankai is an exception, becoming more compact instead). The Bankai itself will receive a different name in addition to the ordinary Zanpakutō (for example Ichigo's Zangetsu becomes Tensa Zangetsu, Byakuya's Senbonzakura becomes Senbonzakura Kageyoshi). Certain Shinigami also change with their Zanpakutō, gaining clothing similar to what their Zanpakutō's spirit form looks like. Most Zanpakutō will also gain additional special abilities, or a more enhanced version of the usual one. Like with the Shikai, most of these abilities have an associated name. Maintaining the Bankai is taxing for the wielder, and it is difficult to maintain it for long periods of time for most Shinigami, with the exception of Ichigo, as it becomes more compact, thus allowing him to hold it for long periods of time.
  
  
• Special Abilities: The power that comes with Bankai tends to be similar to the Shikai's ability/theme, but amplifies it to much greater levels of power and effect. Some simply increase the original ability, such as Byakuya Kuchiki's blade count multiplies greatly, Ichigo Kurosaki's Getsuga Tenshō becoming faster, far more powerful, and its color becomes black, or Sajin Komamura's, who instead of only generating pieces of the giant, summons the whole giant itself. While other Bankai follow the theme of the sword, such as Renji's remains whip-like while containing baboon and cobra features, or Mayuri summons a monster with the same face (Jizō) on his trident-esque sword, but kept the theme of poison that came from the monster's breath.
  
  
• Weakness: A high enough level of spiritual energy can be used to disrupt the rhythm of a Bankai. The biggest flaw of Bankai lies in the overwhelming power it releases. Its power and form are often far beyond that of a normal weapon. This is the reason that in order for one to become capable of using it completely and effectively, one needs to train at least 10 years with Bankai. Any Bankai before that period of time has been reached should not be used in battle.