TENDENCIES: thinking aloud ("mutter-storming”); often brash & abrasive in combat in ‘need-to-win’ mindset (tries to keep it in check); taking risks for the sake of others; self-sacrificing himself; being recklessly selfless; unable to sit by idly not helping in any way
ABILITIES OVERVIEW: keen observation & analysis; intuition & resourcefulness; high pain tolerance; prowess & physical parameters moderately above average; high levels of flexibility; average skills with other melee weapons & magic; proficiency in botany & astronomy; adept tactician, scout & scholar; average proficiency with all weapons
GEARS (main): Kime-branded Satchel (notebooks, pencils, medical supplies/herbs, food rations); Kime-branded Shortsword; Military Dagger; Canteen, Specially-Made Iron Soles, Gloves & Chainmail (underneath vest)
ADDITIONAL GEARS (travel): Yellow Rucksack (for storing sellable content & supplies); Kime-branded Longbow & Quiver; even more notebooks; sleeping bag; clay pots; wooden bowl & eating utensils; flint & steel; Kime-branded Owlbearer Whistle (silently calls upon Kime-raised delivery owls for small packages); Kime-branded Survival Knife
Bio:
A freelancer largely inspired by world-famous adventurer, All Might the Hero of Peace. He sets out on the road under the alias Deku in hopes of learning what his ‘true calling’ may be, travelling in order to expand his horizons, shed light to the truth, and fuel the hearts of all in need of a guiding light. He's often mistaken as a scholar, merchant or even a simple explorer, but the truth is that his travels are also driven by a spiritual journey of self-discovery to find what his people call a person's 'True Calling', or one’s profession & purpose in life. For Deku, his is one not bound by professions or skill. Like All Might, he bears the true calling of Heroism.
Despite having an average grasp in a variety of skills as a Freelancer, Deku bears high intelligence and keen sense of awareness that makes him an incredible asset on the field. His intuitions, resourcefulness and flexibility allow him to creatively think outside the box, and with his keen observational skills and quick-time analysis capabilities, this freelancer has the potential of being a brilliant tactician with a surprising ability of coming up with something from under his sleeves.
Backstory:
In the very beginning, Izuku was simply inspired to become a famous adventurer like his all-time favorite adventurer, All Might the Hero of Peace. Stories and fables about the man always revolved around the discoveries he made along his journey, along with inspiring tales of helping the unfortunate, and especially the world-famous legend where he fought an evil entity, saving mankind.
Although he always believed that he could replicate similar values as an official adventurer, Izuku was usually too hesitant if not discouraged to make that first step. He watched his peers find their ‘true callings’ one after another in the form of wizardry, knighthood and so on, yet he still remained a freelancer with average capabilities in about every class and profession he could try. Nothing seemed to truly resonate deeply within him. As a result, his opportunity to set out as an official adventurer remained stagnant learns of his 'true calling'.
It was during his first ever visit to the capital when Izuku experienced an inkling as to what his ‘true calling’ might be. Rumors of several questionable groups lurked within the shadows of the kingdom, and his natural tendency to reach out and meddle where help isn’t asked for resulted in him discovering one of these groups’ locations. It was a chaotic reveal, taboos being practiced in secret right underneath the capital. His meddling had the facility being demolished to hide all the evidence, but of all the creatures inside, he managed to save one. The incident left a burning imprint on his heart -- a sensation in which he knew was the key to discovering his ‘true calling’, as well as the final push to becoming a full-fledged adventurer.
It’s scarcely heard of in his village for adventurers to set off without first finding their ‘true callings’ in a class, but Izuku strongly believed that his was one which disregarded any bounds to profession or expertise. He adopted his Adventurer Alias ‘Deku’, a derogatory name given by bullies now claimed by him to make it his own power, and soon began his journey throughout the world as the first-ever Freelancer-class Adventurer from his own homeland.
Bonus:
Coming of Age Ceremony: Rites to Adventure
True Calling: Heroism
Deku’s Artifact: One for All
Fun Facts:
Kime ( 決め ) is the noun form of the verb kimeru ( きめる ), which (although it has a multitude of definitions in that website,) basically means ‘to decide/commit’.
Kime is also apparently a commonly used term in Japanese martial arts.
The overall concept of a Freelancer Job Class is literally based on the job class in video games Final Fantasy and Bravely Default -- majority of the influence coming from the latter.
In Final Fantasy, “The Freelancer is not an actual job class, it is simply a placeholder until the player acquires actual jobs. Though they lack any specific skills or strengths, this serves as their only real weakness, as otherwise Freelancers are well-rounded in all areas of combat. Also more often than not, Freelancers can equip mostly every piece of equipment on their respective games, and also being capable of using abilities from other jobs, which in essence makes them the most powerful "job" in their game.”
In Bravely Default, “The Freelancer is an overall balanced job with medium proficiency in all stats and equipment types. Its abilities are likewise balanced support skills and passive abilities. Though not an effective job in combat, the Freelancer's abilities can be useful when paired with other jobs.”
Despite being a ‘Jack-of-All-Trades’, Deku is actually most proficient in swordsmanship when it comes to self-defense, archery when it comes to hunting, and lightning magic essentially for weak self-buffs.
Deku is the first ever person from his village to make the Freelancer job class an ‘official’ category of its own since prior it was normally viewed as a ‘placeholder title’ until trainees find their ‘true calling’ (job class). Although it’s still believed that Freelancers aren’t necessarily a ‘true calling’ in itself, some have been viewing it as ‘the gateway of callings’.
Not only is he a Freelancing Adventurer, but also quite the scholar! In hopes of assisting his home’s knowledge of the world, Deku actually records/catalogs anything and everything he discovers throughout his travels. This explains why his bag is often loaded with used and unused notebooks, and also why he’s a surprisingly good sketch artist.
Deku carries 10 notebooks a set, which eventually gets delivered back to his village when they’re all used up.
Vital information is copied into a personal pocketbook, so at the very least he doesn’t regret sending off any notebooks he might need in the future.
