character info;
Player
Name: Rika
Livejournal Username: tauburn
E-mail: bloodriot at gmail dot com
AIM/MSN: bloodrioting (AIM)
Timezone: GMT +0800
Current Characters in Route: Marui Bunta
Character
Name: Riou
Series: Suikoden II
Timeline: After declining to lead the unified Dunan Republic, but just before meeting Jowy at Tenzan Pass
Canon Resource Links: Suikosource, Suikoden Wikia
Personality:
In a nutshell, Riou is a quiet, charismatic youth who always, always looks on the bright side of life. He is a simple person. There is nothing extravagant or flashy about him. He doesn't do anything very impressive, although those who knew him from the Dunan Unification War would say otherwise. He takes the pleasure in the simplest things in life-- his greatest treasure is the smiles of his sister Nanami, and his best friend Jowy. Riou also always, always believes in the good within people. Raised by an exiled hero, his morals and values tend to revolve around using his skill in protecting those he cares for, and those around him. Despite being teased and bullied during his childhood for being an orphan, he still decides to join the youth army so that he could protect the people of Kyaro and the rest of Highland. Imagine his shock when he discovers that the prince of his own homeland, Luca Blight, staged a dramatic slaughter of the Unicorn Brigade (the youth army) just because he wanted to be king of the world.
Even as a prisoner, Riou is pretty good-natured. He does as he's told (cleaning rooms, going to market, etc.), and he tells the truth when asked questions. He doesn't hold a grudge against the mercenaries who "captured" him, even though he did still try to escape when his best friend comes to his rescue. He even willingly comes back to the mercenaries who more or less adopt him (and Nanami and Jowy) in their community. Riou makes friends with most everyone easily. He's always ready with a smile and a cheerful outlook in life, always ready to help anyone in need. But his smiles doesn't last too long. Twice more, he is reminded of the war threatening to destroy the world as he knew it: Villages were razed to the ground, innocents killed, and to top it all off, his best friend, his trusted partner, suddenly joins the ranks of the Mad Prince Luca. It is an emotional turning point for Riou, and this is where he finds the determination to bring down Luca Blight in the hopes of getting Jowy back.
...Except this doesn't really happen. Jowy becomes King of Highland and is still bent on taking over the City-States of Jowston. Riou throws himself into finding the Stars of Destiny, accepting the role of leader of the Allied Army, determined that he would be able to sway Jowy back to their side. He's always believed that there is always good in everyone-- even Luca Blight. Everyone deserves a second chance-- that's why he did not have the assassin sent to him killed, but imprisoned. Participating in the war has hardened him in some ways. He is even more quiet, not showing people how he truly felt, to the extent of hiding his fatigue. Despite being the leader of the Allied Army, Riou is mostly a figurehead. He does not make most decisions, leaving that to Shu, the Allied's strategist. He is also one of the Allied's best warriors, being trained by Genkaku and honing his skills further during the war. At the battlefield, his unit is always present, and he uses his Bright Shield Rune to protect other units in danger of being defeated. As long as the purpose is to protect and help the people, Riou is alright with this role. He is also now painfully aware that the end does not justify the means, but sometimes he would be forced to do something he would rather not do. Riou would avoid bloodshed and unnecessary deaths if he can, unless there was really no other choice. This is why he answered that he would and could never fight Jowy in their confrontation at Rockaxe. Of course, when it comes to his sister and Jowy, reason gets thrown out the window and he will act first, think later.
Riou will always keep his word, too. If he's promised to help, he will help. That's why he's on his way to Tenzan Pass, to fulfill a promise he's made with Jowy: that if they ever get separated, no matter the circumstance, they would return to the rock they marked and be united once more. Riou never seems to run out of hope and optimism. Even after a war that turned him into a warlord, turned his best friend into an enemy, that both of them had led thousands to their deaths, he still believes that the inherent good of man exists, and that peace will reign.
Strengths/Weaknesses:
Strengths: Since childhood, Riou has been trained in martial arts by his adoptive father Genkaku, and specializes in the use of the tonfa. Most of his childhood, though, was dedicated to martial arts, and had to learn other important skills on his own. While able to read and write, he is not very knowledgeable about history (aside from word of mouth/oral history). He also developed an immunity to Really Bad Cooking, as his sister, Nanami, can't really cook. After Genkaku died, he enlisted, together with his best friend Jowy, in the Highland Unicorn Brigade, the Youth Army of the Highland Kingdom, where he received a more extensive weapons-training, as well as military training. During his travels around the Dunan region, he was able to hone his martial arts training, eventually leading him to defeat Genkaku's rival, Han Cunningham, the Hero of Highland. Riou also seems to have a subconscious ability to gather people at his side to fight for a cause. His charisma actually helps him rise up in rank and become the leader of the Allied Army, despite Nanami's insisting that he turn down the position.
Weaknesses: Being a hero at sixteen isn't all that great. One of Riou's greatest weaknesses is his inability to say no to his generals. Yes, he's optimistic that they would keep winning their battles and eventually the war, but most often than not, Riou is given dangerous, life-threatening missions. While it's all good that he wants to keep on helping people, to reach out to everyone that needs him, he isn’t invincible. During the course of the war, he was betrayed by his own homeland, lost his best friend, and lost his sister. To a sixteen year-old, this is very depressing, and Riou only copes by throwing himself into battle until exhaustion (which actually happens, as he collapsed due to fatigue after the mission at Rockaxe). Riou is also actually a very willing pawn-- although you would have to have the greater good as a goal. If you happen to meet his "good guy criteria" (mostly gut instinct), then he will gladly let himself be used.
Pokémon Information
Affiliation: Breeder
Starter: Pichu
Password: Taco Bell
Samples
First Person Sample:
Chuuuu!
[The feed starts with a Pichu wearing a red handkerchief cape posing for the camera, victorious. She's standing on top of a fainted Spearow, looking very proud of herself. The video moves closer, jiggling a bit-- someone's holding the 'Gear and walking toward the Pichu. The owner's arm reaches down and picks up the Pichu one-handedly]
Congratulations, you were great! You've leveled up again, too.
[The Pichu gurgles happily, latching onto her trainer. The video then shifts to show the trainer, Riou, smiling.]
Hello! I have a question for everyone. I was told these Pokémon evolve when they level up. My Pichu here has leveled up a lot of times now, and she still hasn't evolved... Maybe there's something wrong with her?
[The Pichu gives an indignant huff and crosses her arms.]
Haha, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. You're the best Pichu there is!
[The Pichu seems okay with this and nuzzles her trainer's cheek.]
Um... That's all I wanted to ask. Thank you!
[There's a press of a button, a click, and the feed ends.]
Third Person Sample:
It is a good day. The sun is up, the sky is blue, birds are singing, it's a bit chilly and the clouds in the distance might be a little depressing, but it is still a pretty good day. At least, Riou thinks so.
It would have been much better, though, if he knew exactly what is going on. He'd just been happily ushered outside a house by a woman who claimed to be his mother (impossible, he was an orphan, and his parents were likely dead from the war!), and now he is in a quaint little town with a backpack full of things he isn't familiar with. Oh, and a chirpy little yellow bi-pedal rodent creature is following him around, and he isn't really sure why.
Now, after walking around the small town, Riou is standing by the house he came out of and sighs. He hasn't really found anything very useful, aside from the town's name. All he wants to do was to just go back to Tenzan Pass, and this happens. He really needs to go back. Jowy was waiting for him back there, they had things to settle. Riou sighs again, hanging his head.
The yellow animal(?) at his side then rubs her cheek on his leg with a reassuring Chuuuu, trying to cheer him up. He crouches down to pat her on the head. He isn't really sure why he thinks of it as a girl. Perhaps it was instinct?
"Thank you," he says. "But I really don't think you should be following me around. You should go back to your mother, she might be worried."
The yellow one replies by pouting and smashing her face to his side, trying to hug him. Maybe she was just as lost as he was. And scared. "Oh, alright. You can stay with me," Riou says, patting her on the head again. At least, he wasn't alone in this strange place anymore. "We can look for a way back together." She nods in reply, with a very happy Chuuuu~♪.
Name: Rika
Livejournal Username: tauburn
E-mail: bloodriot at gmail dot com
AIM/MSN: bloodrioting (AIM)
Timezone: GMT +0800
Current Characters in Route: Marui Bunta
Character
Name: Riou
Series: Suikoden II
Timeline: After declining to lead the unified Dunan Republic, but just before meeting Jowy at Tenzan Pass
Canon Resource Links: Suikosource, Suikoden Wikia
Personality:
In a nutshell, Riou is a quiet, charismatic youth who always, always looks on the bright side of life. He is a simple person. There is nothing extravagant or flashy about him. He doesn't do anything very impressive, although those who knew him from the Dunan Unification War would say otherwise. He takes the pleasure in the simplest things in life-- his greatest treasure is the smiles of his sister Nanami, and his best friend Jowy. Riou also always, always believes in the good within people. Raised by an exiled hero, his morals and values tend to revolve around using his skill in protecting those he cares for, and those around him. Despite being teased and bullied during his childhood for being an orphan, he still decides to join the youth army so that he could protect the people of Kyaro and the rest of Highland. Imagine his shock when he discovers that the prince of his own homeland, Luca Blight, staged a dramatic slaughter of the Unicorn Brigade (the youth army) just because he wanted to be king of the world.
Even as a prisoner, Riou is pretty good-natured. He does as he's told (cleaning rooms, going to market, etc.), and he tells the truth when asked questions. He doesn't hold a grudge against the mercenaries who "captured" him, even though he did still try to escape when his best friend comes to his rescue. He even willingly comes back to the mercenaries who more or less adopt him (and Nanami and Jowy) in their community. Riou makes friends with most everyone easily. He's always ready with a smile and a cheerful outlook in life, always ready to help anyone in need. But his smiles doesn't last too long. Twice more, he is reminded of the war threatening to destroy the world as he knew it: Villages were razed to the ground, innocents killed, and to top it all off, his best friend, his trusted partner, suddenly joins the ranks of the Mad Prince Luca. It is an emotional turning point for Riou, and this is where he finds the determination to bring down Luca Blight in the hopes of getting Jowy back.
...Except this doesn't really happen. Jowy becomes King of Highland and is still bent on taking over the City-States of Jowston. Riou throws himself into finding the Stars of Destiny, accepting the role of leader of the Allied Army, determined that he would be able to sway Jowy back to their side. He's always believed that there is always good in everyone-- even Luca Blight. Everyone deserves a second chance-- that's why he did not have the assassin sent to him killed, but imprisoned. Participating in the war has hardened him in some ways. He is even more quiet, not showing people how he truly felt, to the extent of hiding his fatigue. Despite being the leader of the Allied Army, Riou is mostly a figurehead. He does not make most decisions, leaving that to Shu, the Allied's strategist. He is also one of the Allied's best warriors, being trained by Genkaku and honing his skills further during the war. At the battlefield, his unit is always present, and he uses his Bright Shield Rune to protect other units in danger of being defeated. As long as the purpose is to protect and help the people, Riou is alright with this role. He is also now painfully aware that the end does not justify the means, but sometimes he would be forced to do something he would rather not do. Riou would avoid bloodshed and unnecessary deaths if he can, unless there was really no other choice. This is why he answered that he would and could never fight Jowy in their confrontation at Rockaxe. Of course, when it comes to his sister and Jowy, reason gets thrown out the window and he will act first, think later.
Riou will always keep his word, too. If he's promised to help, he will help. That's why he's on his way to Tenzan Pass, to fulfill a promise he's made with Jowy: that if they ever get separated, no matter the circumstance, they would return to the rock they marked and be united once more. Riou never seems to run out of hope and optimism. Even after a war that turned him into a warlord, turned his best friend into an enemy, that both of them had led thousands to their deaths, he still believes that the inherent good of man exists, and that peace will reign.
Strengths/Weaknesses:
Strengths: Since childhood, Riou has been trained in martial arts by his adoptive father Genkaku, and specializes in the use of the tonfa. Most of his childhood, though, was dedicated to martial arts, and had to learn other important skills on his own. While able to read and write, he is not very knowledgeable about history (aside from word of mouth/oral history). He also developed an immunity to Really Bad Cooking, as his sister, Nanami, can't really cook. After Genkaku died, he enlisted, together with his best friend Jowy, in the Highland Unicorn Brigade, the Youth Army of the Highland Kingdom, where he received a more extensive weapons-training, as well as military training. During his travels around the Dunan region, he was able to hone his martial arts training, eventually leading him to defeat Genkaku's rival, Han Cunningham, the Hero of Highland. Riou also seems to have a subconscious ability to gather people at his side to fight for a cause. His charisma actually helps him rise up in rank and become the leader of the Allied Army, despite Nanami's insisting that he turn down the position.
Weaknesses: Being a hero at sixteen isn't all that great. One of Riou's greatest weaknesses is his inability to say no to his generals. Yes, he's optimistic that they would keep winning their battles and eventually the war, but most often than not, Riou is given dangerous, life-threatening missions. While it's all good that he wants to keep on helping people, to reach out to everyone that needs him, he isn’t invincible. During the course of the war, he was betrayed by his own homeland, lost his best friend, and lost his sister. To a sixteen year-old, this is very depressing, and Riou only copes by throwing himself into battle until exhaustion (which actually happens, as he collapsed due to fatigue after the mission at Rockaxe). Riou is also actually a very willing pawn-- although you would have to have the greater good as a goal. If you happen to meet his "good guy criteria" (mostly gut instinct), then he will gladly let himself be used.
Pokémon Information
Affiliation: Breeder
Starter: Pichu
Password: Taco Bell
Samples
First Person Sample:
Chuuuu!
[The feed starts with a Pichu wearing a red handkerchief cape posing for the camera, victorious. She's standing on top of a fainted Spearow, looking very proud of herself. The video moves closer, jiggling a bit-- someone's holding the 'Gear and walking toward the Pichu. The owner's arm reaches down and picks up the Pichu one-handedly]
Congratulations, you were great! You've leveled up again, too.
[The Pichu gurgles happily, latching onto her trainer. The video then shifts to show the trainer, Riou, smiling.]
Hello! I have a question for everyone. I was told these Pokémon evolve when they level up. My Pichu here has leveled up a lot of times now, and she still hasn't evolved... Maybe there's something wrong with her?
[The Pichu gives an indignant huff and crosses her arms.]
Haha, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. You're the best Pichu there is!
[The Pichu seems okay with this and nuzzles her trainer's cheek.]
Um... That's all I wanted to ask. Thank you!
[There's a press of a button, a click, and the feed ends.]
Third Person Sample:
It is a good day. The sun is up, the sky is blue, birds are singing, it's a bit chilly and the clouds in the distance might be a little depressing, but it is still a pretty good day. At least, Riou thinks so.
It would have been much better, though, if he knew exactly what is going on. He'd just been happily ushered outside a house by a woman who claimed to be his mother (impossible, he was an orphan, and his parents were likely dead from the war!), and now he is in a quaint little town with a backpack full of things he isn't familiar with. Oh, and a chirpy little yellow bi-pedal rodent creature is following him around, and he isn't really sure why.
Now, after walking around the small town, Riou is standing by the house he came out of and sighs. He hasn't really found anything very useful, aside from the town's name. All he wants to do was to just go back to Tenzan Pass, and this happens. He really needs to go back. Jowy was waiting for him back there, they had things to settle. Riou sighs again, hanging his head.
The yellow animal(?) at his side then rubs her cheek on his leg with a reassuring Chuuuu, trying to cheer him up. He crouches down to pat her on the head. He isn't really sure why he thinks of it as a girl. Perhaps it was instinct?
"Thank you," he says. "But I really don't think you should be following me around. You should go back to your mother, she might be worried."
The yellow one replies by pouting and smashing her face to his side, trying to hug him. Maybe she was just as lost as he was. And scared. "Oh, alright. You can stay with me," Riou says, patting her on the head again. At least, he wasn't alone in this strange place anymore. "We can look for a way back together." She nods in reply, with a very happy Chuuuu~♪.