Verse: “Centuries”/”Battered Blade(s)”
OOC:
“We've been here forever And here's the frozen proof” What’s a sentient weapon to do when their Master dies? What happens with the passing of time - when far more than just one Master dies? What happens when Sisters get Separated... ...for Centuries?
~*~ Suggested Soundtrack: Imagine Dragons - “Warriors”, “Radioactive” Fall Out Boy: “Centuries”, “Immortals”. Woodkid: “Iron” Icon for Hire: “The Hope of Morning” , “The Grey”
(Intro image modified from one of the wallpapers here. )
~*~ Commentary: I’ve been thinking about this one ‘verse for months, ever since chatting with @thecrimsonrapier and @argentumexitium about how Tsurugi might turn out in their Battered Blade thread, which at one point, I was going to join in on. Since this blog was about to hit the 200 post milestone, I figured, why not do something big and special for it? :) So here we have a ‘Verse Post for it. This is a combination of headcanon (for one possible future path the Sisters could take), and setup for RP. You may consider this post as inspiration for a Starter with me if you like! :) It doesn’t even have to be in the exact original ‘verse directly inspired by the Rapier and Masa thread, either; if you’d like to use this verse/flavor in general but don’t want to be restricted to the events inspired by that specific original thread, you can refer to the ‘verse as just “Centuries” when requesting a thread. I’m open to tweaking it if makes a thread work better for a given partner, and will consider it just another closely-related ‘alternative universe’. :) ~*~ The ‘Verse(s): (Bolded portions in this section are the general details that would be used in pretty much, give or take, all variants of this continuity; non-bolded are specific to the original version of the ‘verse) The setup for Battered Blade(s), was that it was approximately 1,000 years post-Advent Children, Sephiroth has long since been defeated and failed to return, and the world is at peace and moved well on from where it used to be during the post-Meteor era...which doesn’t stop a museum’s procurement of his legendary blade from being controversial, of course. So controversial, in fact, that it’s not even being displayed -- poor Masa is stuck in a drawer. Lucky for him, Rapier -- currently Masterless and kind of just wandering around doing his own thing -- decides to spring him.
Based on a vague reference to Tsurugi being with “Cloud’s descendants”, I had tons of thoughts about what might happen given about a millennium + Cloud a.) having had children/heirs and b.) managing to die and stay dead after a certain point.
One of the things that I decided was that with multiple descendants/heirs, it makes sense for Tsurugi to actually split up to help protect them...and thus we start with the real meat of this verse/timeline, in regards to my muse: what happens when Tsurugi’s Blades are Separated for years, even centuries, at a time? Turns out, kind of a lot. ~*~ Nitsurugi (Nichi): -Key Info- Level: 99 Height (Human Form): Approx. 5ft (152 cm) Human Appearance: Female, mid-late 20s; thin but athletic build; slightly-spiky-banged blonde with blue, mako-tinted eyes; facial scarring (see “damage”). Usually seen in jeans, tank top, and a hoodie, paired with combat boots or sneakers. Weapon Type (Non-transformed): Dagger/short sword. Most Recent Master: Daniel Wallace, a mechanic, who is currently retired from active combat/adventuring; descendant of Cloud Strife; descendant of one of Marlene Wallace’s children. Damage? Yes - damage to her hilt has formed a crack that has yet to be repaired. It also affects her human shape, taking the form of a long, straight scar running down through one eye. No noticeable rust, though she hasn’t been oiled in several years. Current Status: The damage from several years ago rendered her temporarily in such pain she could not communicate, but that pain has since faded to a dull ache; unfortunately, though, since the repairs were estimated to be far outside of her then-Master’s budget (and she wasn’t able to inform him of the...appropriate person to contact about that --see further below), she still bears that damage. Having been stuck in a drawer for a few years, she’s grown restless. Until one day she hears an interesting news report... San Tsurugi -Key Info- Level: 99 Height (Human Form): Approx. 5ft (152 cm) Human Appearance: Female, mid-late 20s; athletic build; blonde with spiky bangs and blue, mako-tinted eyes; minor skin damage (see “damage”). Usually seen in jeans, tank top, and a hoodie, paired with combat boots or sneakers. Weapon Type (Non-transformed): Dagger/short sword. Most Recent Master: ???; descendant of Cloud Strife. Damage? Yes - Minor rust damage, as she hasn’t been cleaned and oiled properly in a while despite her recent Master’s...frequent use of her Blade form; manifests as minor skin damage on her body and face. Current Status: Masterless, and carrying a mysterious container, that she insists needs to be in Old Midgar as soon as possible... Yontsurugi and Gotsurugi (Yon and Go) -Key Info- Level: 99 Height (Human Form): Approx. 5′5″ (165 cm) Human Appearance: Female, mid-20s; thin, athletic build; blonde with spiky bangs, blue, mako-tinted eyes. Weapon Type (Non-transformed): Double-sided long sword, with one jagged edge. Most Recent Master: [name tbd] descendant of Cloud Strife; descendant of ???. Damage? No - well-maintained. Current Status: Still with their current (dual-wielding) Master. He’s less than ethical and a bit careless with most others’ safety, perhaps even a bit cold, but they’re currently loyal and somewhat...forgiving on the ethics at this point, since he’s treated them well and they’re just...kind of tired and bored. May be prone to wandering off if something finally seems interesting or an old friend or Sister shows up to stir them out of their apathy. If they do, they’re likely to wander off together, instead of leaving one behind, as if anything they’re the closest to identical twins out of Sisters and wouldn’t like being Separated again. Roku: -Key Info- Level: 99 Height (Human Form): Approx. 5′7″ (170 cm) Human Appearance: Female, early 20s; EXTREMELY athletic build, thick with muscle (bulkier and more visibly beefy than her Master -- think Ronda Rousey with lighter, spikier hair); blonde with blue, mako-tinted eyes; wears her long hair in one or more braids; usually seen in comfortable clothing that allows freedom of movement, and hiking boots. Weapon Type (Non-transformed): Two-handed, multi-edged long sword; most akin to a broadsword or Great Sword in shape, but with an additional Battle Form that pops open, with a hollow segment in the middle. Current Master: Clara Marie Strife, a cheerful, friendly, adventure-loving young lady with spiky blonde hair, blue eyes, and a deceptively petite build; makes her living via “freelance adventuring” that mostly consists of monster-hunting and occasional work as a courier; enjoys parkour, driving her motorcycle entirely too fast, and making new friends; the most direct descendant of Cloud Strife, and last one to bear the surname. Damage?: None at current. Well-maintained. Current Status: Traveling with her Master across Gaia on various adventures. Well-cared for, and properly maintained, despite Clara’s...active, lifestyle. Has a close and comfortable relationship with her current Master, and over the years has come to fairly peaceful terms with the long-term Separation from her Sisters. Though still a bit shy, and prone to worry about those she loves when they’re injured or in danger, she no longer suffers from the more severe anxiety she once suffered from.
First Tsurugi/Tsurugi Prime: -Key Info- Level: 99 Height (Human Form): Approx. 5′6″ (167 cm) Human Appearance: Female, perhaps early 30s; VERY athletic build (again, think Ronda Rousey); blonde with blue, mako-tinted eyes; wears her long hair in one or more ponytails or braids, usually seen in comfortable clothing with lots of pockets that allows freedom of movement, and combat boots. Weapon Type (Non-transformed): Hand-and-half long sword with a blade that continues in front of the/across the handle. Current Master: None. Damage?: None at current. Current Status: Guarding the Strife Mausoleum, hidden deep in the ruins of Old Midgar. Spends her time maintaining and improving the traps and security systems, exercising/training, Mastering/practicing with her materia, reading, surfing the Worldwide, and writing under various pseudonyms. Meets sometimes with Cait Sith for friendly hangouts and mutual maintenance.