THE SPIDER'S WALK INFO
NAME: Bonten (Hayashi)
AGE: 20
HEIGHT: 6'0" (182.88 cm)
CANON SOURCE: Amatsuki (Manga only)
TIMELINE: Chapter 39, after passing out.
CANON ABILITIES: Powerful Tengu with the ability to read 'heaven's net', otherwise known as fate (both future and past). Doesn't appear to be entirely precognitive, usually shown focusing on an individual at a time for a detailed view on a situation, literally pulling their memories, or what happened, out of them (without harm). Has the ability to manipulate 'life', which translates to him moving souls around (including his own) and keeping life in place when it's attempting to leave (die). Can possess others with this ability, has created another demon out of the life remaining on a battlefield, and has kept a human and a demon from dying indefinitely. He has wings but cannot fly due to damage to them when he was younger, has used them for shields and creating a wind strong enough to blow a human away. It's also implied that all demons have a demonic shape that they cover with a human one, although Bonten's has never been shown except for when he was younger and couldn't or didn't hide his wings and clawed hands, and he is strong enough to maintain his human shape while unconscious.
PERSONALITY: Distant. Bonten holds himself carefully contained, vulnerability and secrets hidden behind a cloak of mystery, diversion and a sharp temper. He cares a lot, about several people, but his ways of showing it are usually through pragmatic action and insults.
The truth hurts, he knows this better than most, but he makes no effort to blunt it if it needs to be said. But if it doesn't need to be said, then he won't say it, and will hide certain truths from those he cares about if he feels they aren't ready for them. He won't mince his words, his opinions of people, and can't stand idiots. He normally gets branded the asshole for it.
He'd rather that than people see the hurt he's suffered, however. He has lost, deeply, he knows the taste of it and he knows the regret. He'll do anything to make sure it doesn't happen again, to make sure no one he cares about has to experience anything similar. If or when he fails, he does show a compassionate side, breaking the news gently and sharing his own experiences (albeit ambiguously and without detail).
While he seems arrogant and vain on the surface, he's actually terrible at looking after himself, used to help in dressing and arranging his hair. He will also put his own welfare to one side in order to deal with things that he considers to have a greater priority. He suffers from insomnia and is, when he can actually manage it, an extremely light sleeper, meaning anyone who disturbs him will suffer the brunt of his temper. The cause for his insomnia is not clear, but he will often go so long without sleep that his body rebels, and he passes out.
CANON HISTORY: Bonten was taken in as a young 'boy' by a snake demon called Byakuroku. Byakuroku was Heaven's Seat, the leader of the demons, and he raised Bonten (then Hiwa) to be his heir. Hiwa was reluctant and recalcitrant under his care, and didn't like the lesser demons he was meant to be leading, preferring to treat them coldly. One day, in fit of pique, he went to the shrine near where he and Byakuroku lived in an attempt to take out the 'head' of the humans hunting demons, the holy priestess Ginshu. Upon meeting Ginshu, however, he was informed that Ginshu was merely a decoy, a shield for the real person holding the power at the shrine. Hiwa decided killing Ginshu would be pointless, and Ginshu shooed him off before its guards could arrive.
Their meeting did not remain a secret amongst the lesser demons, however, and when Hiwa again acted coldly to some approaching him, he was attacked and used as bait to draw Ginshu out again. It worked, but the demon died after tasting Ginshu's holy blood, and Ginshu took Hiwa back to the shrine to heal. A strange sort of friendship came about between them, leaving both Hiwa and Ginshu questioning what exactly the differences between humans and demons were. Hiwa healed eventually and left, informing Ginshu that his name was Byakuroku.
Through the winter they met many times and played a variety of games, part of an overall game wherein the winner each time would be allowed the answer to one question. Using this, they learnt much about each other's worlds, but did not step over certain lines, both unwilling to break the bond between them.
Ginshu later found out that the demon with the name of Byakuroku was the leader of the demons, however, and when calling it in the forest encountered the real Byakuroku. They spoke briefly, leaving Ginshu with more questions about the relationship between demons and humans, contradictions and truths that made Ginshu lock himself up for nearly a year, no longer visiting Hiwa. During this time Ginshu also neglected to play with Shinshu, a little girl who was the real priestess of the shrine. Shinshu instead found other entertainment in the company of Tsuyukusa, Hiwa's 'younger brother', unaware that he was a demon.
In a messy altercation between Byakuroku, Tsuyukusa, Shinshu and some of the shrine's other priestesses, Tsuyukusa was injured and Byakuroku killed the priestesses, going crazy on human flesh. He then attacked Ginshu, poisoning himself on Ginshu's holy blood and leaving Ginshu grievously harmed. Shinshu went a little mad at the prospect of Ginshu dying, and in order for her not to destroy the world, The Powers That Be (otherwise known as Teiten) stepped in and transferred her powers to Hiwa. In desperation not to lose either of them, Hiwa took Ginshu's soul and placed it in Byakuroku's body.
Ginshu lived on under a 'curse' that caused him to die nightly, and Hiwa took the name of Bonten, and became Heaven's Seat. Able through Shinshu's power to now see Heaven's Net, Bonten also gives this ability to Ginshu, who decides to fight against it. They turn it into another one of their games: Ginshu's intention is to destroy the 'world', while Bonten's is to free it of Heaven's Net.
With Toki's arrival, both Ginshu and Bonten are 'courting' him in the hopes to use his power of The Unwritten Page to achieve their individual goals.
PREFERRED PLACEMENT: Unaffiliated
HOW DIFFERENT DO YOU WANT THE MEMORIES TO BE FROM THEIR CANON? Bonten was adopted by Byakuroku, a book keeper, at a young age. They had a somewhat tumultuous relationship, but ultimately cared deeply for each other. Byakuroku was very well off for a book keeper, paying for Bonten's good schooling and rather expensive lifestyle, but Bonten never really questioned it.
One night Byakuroku was murdered in a back alley and Bonten was left to fend for himself, finding it a lot harder than he was used to. He initially believed Byakuroku's death to be a mugging gone bad, but he's recently heard something from an old associate of Byakuroku's that has made him think otherwise, and he's decided to try and find out if there's any fact to back up his suspicions.
PLANS FOR YOUR CHARACTER: I'd like to bring out the investigative side of Bonten's character, putting him in a position where he doesn't hold all the answers, and needs to gather information instead. He'll have to swallow his pride (and his sharp tongue) and make full use of his charisma, something he won't be used to at this stage.
I would like it if Byakuroku had been working books for some of the darker and more powerful characters in the game, and so Bonten will end up sticking his nose in places it most definitely will not be welcome.
SAMPLES
LOG SAMPLE: Fifth bar this week, third job interview. The thing I hate most is the waiting. Sitting in some long row of prospective bar staff, wondering if perhaps they hold some key skill you're missing, some small factor that will tip the favour in their balance. I can think of no other situation where you sit, voluntarily, side by side and remain silent, civil, with what are essentially your enemies.
It's a matter of strategy, then, to look each one over, weigh them up. As surreptitiously as possible, of course. Realising this, the first time I ended up in such a situation, I've managed to pick up pros and drops cons.
Clean and well groomed, but not over dressed. Confident manner, but not too superior or arrogant. Honest and earnest enough, but not too over-eager. Experienced, but not above the position you're applying for.
I've fallen on the last twice now. Conceding that no bar wanted to waste time training a barman when there were candidates with years of experience, I had to swallow my pride and my hunger, do without decent food for a week in order to buy a few lessons from the bartender of a small joint on the corner. Budgeting my slowly dwindling funds is another skill I'm quickly becoming adept at. Necessity is a good teacher.
I don't bother to observe my enemies past a casual glance this time. I've already picked up as much as I can from that avenue. All that's left, as much as I hate it, is to wait. List cocktail recipes in my head, and hope that this time, I've done enough.
If not, I'll just have to try again. And again. There are only so many bars near Byakuroku's old workplace, but there are more positions than just tending. It's just a matter of yet more waiting.
But I don't mind being patient on my own time.
JOURNAL SAMPLE: A journal that writes back? How fascinating. I understand the other writing belongs to existing people in the city, rather than the book itself. A communication device rather than a journal, then. But how is something like this supposed to 'help me on my way'? And what, exactly, would be 'my way'?
No answers from any of the people writing in here, I know. Even aware of the communicative nature of this book, it's difficult to shake the habit of noting thoughts.
Something that could be answered, then. I would hope that someone had noted a pattern. This object is unusual enough that those of us gifted with it must have something in common. The city is an obvious one, but if that is our commonality then why not every citizen?
There must be something. There always is.
AGE: 20
HEIGHT: 6'0" (182.88 cm)
CANON SOURCE: Amatsuki (Manga only)
TIMELINE: Chapter 39, after passing out.
CANON ABILITIES: Powerful Tengu with the ability to read 'heaven's net', otherwise known as fate (both future and past). Doesn't appear to be entirely precognitive, usually shown focusing on an individual at a time for a detailed view on a situation, literally pulling their memories, or what happened, out of them (without harm). Has the ability to manipulate 'life', which translates to him moving souls around (including his own) and keeping life in place when it's attempting to leave (die). Can possess others with this ability, has created another demon out of the life remaining on a battlefield, and has kept a human and a demon from dying indefinitely. He has wings but cannot fly due to damage to them when he was younger, has used them for shields and creating a wind strong enough to blow a human away. It's also implied that all demons have a demonic shape that they cover with a human one, although Bonten's has never been shown except for when he was younger and couldn't or didn't hide his wings and clawed hands, and he is strong enough to maintain his human shape while unconscious.
PERSONALITY: Distant. Bonten holds himself carefully contained, vulnerability and secrets hidden behind a cloak of mystery, diversion and a sharp temper. He cares a lot, about several people, but his ways of showing it are usually through pragmatic action and insults.
The truth hurts, he knows this better than most, but he makes no effort to blunt it if it needs to be said. But if it doesn't need to be said, then he won't say it, and will hide certain truths from those he cares about if he feels they aren't ready for them. He won't mince his words, his opinions of people, and can't stand idiots. He normally gets branded the asshole for it.
He'd rather that than people see the hurt he's suffered, however. He has lost, deeply, he knows the taste of it and he knows the regret. He'll do anything to make sure it doesn't happen again, to make sure no one he cares about has to experience anything similar. If or when he fails, he does show a compassionate side, breaking the news gently and sharing his own experiences (albeit ambiguously and without detail).
While he seems arrogant and vain on the surface, he's actually terrible at looking after himself, used to help in dressing and arranging his hair. He will also put his own welfare to one side in order to deal with things that he considers to have a greater priority. He suffers from insomnia and is, when he can actually manage it, an extremely light sleeper, meaning anyone who disturbs him will suffer the brunt of his temper. The cause for his insomnia is not clear, but he will often go so long without sleep that his body rebels, and he passes out.
CANON HISTORY: Bonten was taken in as a young 'boy' by a snake demon called Byakuroku. Byakuroku was Heaven's Seat, the leader of the demons, and he raised Bonten (then Hiwa) to be his heir. Hiwa was reluctant and recalcitrant under his care, and didn't like the lesser demons he was meant to be leading, preferring to treat them coldly. One day, in fit of pique, he went to the shrine near where he and Byakuroku lived in an attempt to take out the 'head' of the humans hunting demons, the holy priestess Ginshu. Upon meeting Ginshu, however, he was informed that Ginshu was merely a decoy, a shield for the real person holding the power at the shrine. Hiwa decided killing Ginshu would be pointless, and Ginshu shooed him off before its guards could arrive.
Their meeting did not remain a secret amongst the lesser demons, however, and when Hiwa again acted coldly to some approaching him, he was attacked and used as bait to draw Ginshu out again. It worked, but the demon died after tasting Ginshu's holy blood, and Ginshu took Hiwa back to the shrine to heal. A strange sort of friendship came about between them, leaving both Hiwa and Ginshu questioning what exactly the differences between humans and demons were. Hiwa healed eventually and left, informing Ginshu that his name was Byakuroku.
Through the winter they met many times and played a variety of games, part of an overall game wherein the winner each time would be allowed the answer to one question. Using this, they learnt much about each other's worlds, but did not step over certain lines, both unwilling to break the bond between them.
Ginshu later found out that the demon with the name of Byakuroku was the leader of the demons, however, and when calling it in the forest encountered the real Byakuroku. They spoke briefly, leaving Ginshu with more questions about the relationship between demons and humans, contradictions and truths that made Ginshu lock himself up for nearly a year, no longer visiting Hiwa. During this time Ginshu also neglected to play with Shinshu, a little girl who was the real priestess of the shrine. Shinshu instead found other entertainment in the company of Tsuyukusa, Hiwa's 'younger brother', unaware that he was a demon.
In a messy altercation between Byakuroku, Tsuyukusa, Shinshu and some of the shrine's other priestesses, Tsuyukusa was injured and Byakuroku killed the priestesses, going crazy on human flesh. He then attacked Ginshu, poisoning himself on Ginshu's holy blood and leaving Ginshu grievously harmed. Shinshu went a little mad at the prospect of Ginshu dying, and in order for her not to destroy the world, The Powers That Be (otherwise known as Teiten) stepped in and transferred her powers to Hiwa. In desperation not to lose either of them, Hiwa took Ginshu's soul and placed it in Byakuroku's body.
Ginshu lived on under a 'curse' that caused him to die nightly, and Hiwa took the name of Bonten, and became Heaven's Seat. Able through Shinshu's power to now see Heaven's Net, Bonten also gives this ability to Ginshu, who decides to fight against it. They turn it into another one of their games: Ginshu's intention is to destroy the 'world', while Bonten's is to free it of Heaven's Net.
With Toki's arrival, both Ginshu and Bonten are 'courting' him in the hopes to use his power of The Unwritten Page to achieve their individual goals.
PREFERRED PLACEMENT: Unaffiliated
HOW DIFFERENT DO YOU WANT THE MEMORIES TO BE FROM THEIR CANON? Bonten was adopted by Byakuroku, a book keeper, at a young age. They had a somewhat tumultuous relationship, but ultimately cared deeply for each other. Byakuroku was very well off for a book keeper, paying for Bonten's good schooling and rather expensive lifestyle, but Bonten never really questioned it.
One night Byakuroku was murdered in a back alley and Bonten was left to fend for himself, finding it a lot harder than he was used to. He initially believed Byakuroku's death to be a mugging gone bad, but he's recently heard something from an old associate of Byakuroku's that has made him think otherwise, and he's decided to try and find out if there's any fact to back up his suspicions.
PLANS FOR YOUR CHARACTER: I'd like to bring out the investigative side of Bonten's character, putting him in a position where he doesn't hold all the answers, and needs to gather information instead. He'll have to swallow his pride (and his sharp tongue) and make full use of his charisma, something he won't be used to at this stage.
I would like it if Byakuroku had been working books for some of the darker and more powerful characters in the game, and so Bonten will end up sticking his nose in places it most definitely will not be welcome.
SAMPLES
LOG SAMPLE: Fifth bar this week, third job interview. The thing I hate most is the waiting. Sitting in some long row of prospective bar staff, wondering if perhaps they hold some key skill you're missing, some small factor that will tip the favour in their balance. I can think of no other situation where you sit, voluntarily, side by side and remain silent, civil, with what are essentially your enemies.
It's a matter of strategy, then, to look each one over, weigh them up. As surreptitiously as possible, of course. Realising this, the first time I ended up in such a situation, I've managed to pick up pros and drops cons.
Clean and well groomed, but not over dressed. Confident manner, but not too superior or arrogant. Honest and earnest enough, but not too over-eager. Experienced, but not above the position you're applying for.
I've fallen on the last twice now. Conceding that no bar wanted to waste time training a barman when there were candidates with years of experience, I had to swallow my pride and my hunger, do without decent food for a week in order to buy a few lessons from the bartender of a small joint on the corner. Budgeting my slowly dwindling funds is another skill I'm quickly becoming adept at. Necessity is a good teacher.
I don't bother to observe my enemies past a casual glance this time. I've already picked up as much as I can from that avenue. All that's left, as much as I hate it, is to wait. List cocktail recipes in my head, and hope that this time, I've done enough.
If not, I'll just have to try again. And again. There are only so many bars near Byakuroku's old workplace, but there are more positions than just tending. It's just a matter of yet more waiting.
But I don't mind being patient on my own time.
JOURNAL SAMPLE: A journal that writes back? How fascinating. I understand the other writing belongs to existing people in the city, rather than the book itself. A communication device rather than a journal, then. But how is something like this supposed to 'help me on my way'? And what, exactly, would be 'my way'?
No answers from any of the people writing in here, I know. Even aware of the communicative nature of this book, it's difficult to shake the habit of noting thoughts.
Something that could be answered, then. I would hope that someone had noted a pattern. This object is unusual enough that those of us gifted with it must have something in common. The city is an obvious one, but if that is our commonality then why not every citizen?
There must be something. There always is.