Of The Flame
Mar 19, 2021 15:55:36 GMT -7
Post by Greed on Mar 19, 2021 15:55:36 GMT -7
Diego Sondrei
"A man I knew once said ninjutsu is art. Can you believe that? You're about to be killed by art."
"A man I knew once said ninjutsu is art. Can you believe that? You're about to be killed by art."
- Evil Neutral -
- Male -
- 21 -
- 6'1 -
- 78kg -
- Freelancer -
-Land of Hotsprings-
Ninjutsu Master
Chakra Affinity: Fire
Taijutsu Non-Specialist
Combat Expertise: N/A
I - 0
M - 0
P - 0
A - 0
C - 3
T - 0
L - 0
Background
Hot embers danced and convulsed to the rhythmic melodies of screams, eating up volumes of people and buildings as if they were sacrificing them to some infernal god. The intense heat of flames cut through the cold midnight air like a blade and illuminated the sky's dark canvas with a demonic glow. Eyes transfixed, Diego could feel its warm embrace even from the distance that he was away. Like a particular gruesome painting, Diego was both traumatised and mesmerised. Everything about it was oxymoronic. Never had he witnessed such beauty and such destruction occur simultaneously. For a few seconds he forgot about his parents, the village and even time itself. It was only him and the flames...
Diego was born to parents whom could be described as mediocre at worse and regular people at best. He had a simple early childhood living in a small village in the Land of Hot-Springs, with his father being an average blue-collar worker that made just enough to keep the family from poverty. Diego's mother played the role of the caretaker, and thus was more directly involved than his father in his upbringing. His mother, while a loving and caring woman with few faults worth mentioning, was far too "soft" when it came to raising Diego. Unfortunately the boy had a naturally wicked disposition from an incredibly early age that both his parents failed to address to the degree that could've changed it. From the age of 2, Diego's mother began to notice that he was prone to destroying things, often times on purpose and with very specific intentions in mind such as to spite a particular person. "He's just a kid. He'll grow out of it." was his's father's favourite excuse whenever his mother occasionally brought up the case of Diego's unusually sadistic temperament. In his defence, overtime was a common occurrence at his job and so it was rather difficult for him to pay full attention to his family while also making enough for them to live comfortably enough.
Despite being an impetuous brat, Diego did well to integrate socially and did not struggle making friends. However he had the nasty habit of picking on the weak and undesirable, one that disturbingly went above the norm for children his age. Throughout the years, victims of his bullying the would eventually report it to their parents whom would try and take action in some way. After the first few times of being reprimanded by his parents and the parents of the children he'd bullied, Diego came up with the solution that many criminals and degenerates all came up with at some point in their childhoods; "don't get caught". Lying to and manipulating others, especially to avoid trouble was something that came rather easily to him, to the point that he was even able to convince his own parents that he had changed for the better. The fools.
However Diego's relatively peaceful life came crashing and burning without warning one day. Bandits. Marauders. Brigands. Whatever they were, there were dozens them and they prowled through the village one unfortunate night when its defences were low and razed it to the ground, killing all who opposed them and taking as much valuables as they could carry. Typical bandit stuff, but for a small village that had never been exposed to such levels of violence and fear, it might as well have been blazing hell on earth.
Diego's father was killed defending his home while him and his mother managed to escape. Diego didn't see him die, he was much too busy fleeing with his mother in abject terror, but he heard his screams, they were blood-curdling. A similar fate later met his mother when a cutthroat lunged at her from nowhere. Diego genuinely loved his mother, but for some reason his feelings of concern for her went up in flames the moment he sized up the brigand that was twice his size. He didn't wait for her to tell him to run before bolting off in a new direction put of sheer panic and fear. That was the last time he ever saw her.
---
Fast forward to years later. Diego, having been kicked out of the orphanage he had been staying at since the incident, took to a life of pickpocketing to make ends meet. His charismatic nature and nimble hands allowed him to make a decent living off of it. However, one day he pickpocketed the wrong person. A cloaked man with salt and pepper hair and stony blue eyes. Diego knew there was something different about this particular mark but he decided to steal from him anyway. Big mistake. As Diego was removing his hand after grabbing a few strange-looking gemstones, the robed man suddenly turned around and grabbed Diego's hand. The man's hands burst into flames as he held Diego, but as if resistant to the effect, Diego spat in his face, stepped on his foot and bolted off in the other direction. The man did not appear to give chase, and so Diego stopped once he thought he was in the clear. The robed man teleporting in front of him, made the young boy jump in shock. "Why are you unharmed?" he said in a gruff voice, eyes glaring suspiciously. Diego looked down to his arm in shock to find it completely unscathed. "You can have your gemstones back." he replied, scattering the gemstones unto the ground before trying to back away in fear. The older man squinted his eyes "I can sense it. Your chakra levels are... incredible"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Diego paused.
"Yes, you have the potential. What are the odds that I'd find someone like you somewhere here?"
A fireball suddenly appeared over the man's left hand. Diego's blood froze.
"Only a few people in this world can do things like this. I am what some people call a shinobi."
At that point in time, Diego's eyes begun to glow orange. The fear that was immobilising him was smothered by his newfound fascination.
"You want to learn this?"
"....Yes..."
"I won't teach you much, I'm a busy man. In fact, I shouldn't be teaching you at all. Not with the things I know. But I'll make an exception. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I let talent this rare go to waste."
---
Diego's natural talent for ninjutsu was impeccable, as the man called Fuse had guessed. After it was revealed that his chakra affinity was fire, Diego was trained in it for the week that Fuse was able to stay in town. He had mastered the basics within that time, prompting Fuse to give a set of Fire Release scrolls so he could continue to hone his talent even after he'd left. After that they both said their farewells, with Diego being extremely grateful for his newfound abilities.
"When you're ready to progress further, come find me."
Determined to make a name for himself with his chakra capabilities, Diego took his savings and left his town the next day. One day he will find the shinobi, but until then Diego chases fame and fortune, burning down anyone and anything that gets in his way.
Personality
Power, money and influence. These are the three things that drive Diego to get out of the bed in the morning. As a child and especially after the death of his parents, the young man always wanted more out of life than what he currently had. He wanted respect of, he wanted money and he wanted freedom. Freedom was the easy part, but respect and money were the two things he seriously had to strategise to earn, even before he met his teacher. Diego chases money, but often with the end-goal of using it to grow his power and influence rather than spending it lavishly.
Diego is extroverted, but not in the typical sense. He gains energy from social situations and talking to people but he does not desire to be liked nor does he like others much. When he talks, it is often to assert his dominance whenever he feels it is necessary to do so depending on the topic of conversation going on around him. As such, many could describe him as egotistical. The fear and respect of those around him is far more important than whether or not those people actually like him. He is a natural leader, but one that relies on coercion, fear, or respect to motivate others to follow him.
Diego is a practical and analytical person at heart. He appears to be decisive when he is with others, but when he is alone or lost in thought he tends to over-analyse things and can struggle with making an important decision. This is due to his nature as a profound critical thinker. However the man is far more inclined to act rashly when others are relying on his judgement. This is due to Diego despising the idea of being seen as weak by those he associates himself with. He will often go to great lengths to assert his dominance. If his piercing hot eyes aren't enough to intimidate someone that might be disrespecting him, a small show of his chakra-capabilities in the form of a hovering fire ball is usually enough to do the job.
When it is not however, Diego has no qualms with killing people. Even in public, Diego will attempt to immolate anyone behaving openly threatening or hostile towards himself. This is once again due to his burning desire to instil fear in others and not being able to tolerate disrespect. But it is having a naturally wicked disposition, along with losing his closest family members to violence and murder, that gives Diego the freedom to cross that line whenever he sees fit.
Diego believes in the value of information and knowledge, just as much as he believes in the value of money. Diego likes to read in his free time, though only studying books, news articles and concepts that he feels are relevant to his current situation. As a practical person, Diego would much rather focus on the knowledge that he can directly apply in his life rather than on completely theoretical concepts or fairy tales of any kind.
Finally, Diego is a bit witty. He does not try to act funny or elicit laughs from those around him, as he believes it make it harder for others to take him seriously. However in proving his point in a conversation, or simply verbally abusing someone that has stepped out of line, Diego will do so in a slightly creative manner that will leave others the impression that he is quite good with words. Ironically, Diego has a low sense of humour and will usually not laugh at any joke that other people tell, unless he is drunk, which is a rare circumstance in itself.
Appearance
Standing 6’1 tall, this dark skinned man has a very threatening yet exotic feel about him, like a dangerous creature from a faraway land. His appearance, even at a distance is alluring to all who notice. Contrasting hues of orange and brown radiate from his body, leaving a lasting impression on almost all who see him for the first time.
He has an almost rectangular face when viewed from a perpendicular angle with a well-sculpted square jaw that accentuates his facial features. His chocolate-coloured face is almost entirely free of scars, blemishes and pimples.
The most distinct feature about his face is easily his eyes. Harsh and analytical, his eyes are almost always narrowed at a subject unfortunate enough to peak his interest. His irises are light brown but with an unwaveringly hot intensity that seldom submits to higher authority. Truly a scary sight for any man or woman of weak will.
A particularly notable feature is the devilish smirk that often emerges when he finds himself in a particularly advantageous situation. In contrast, this grin often morphs into a particularly nasty scowl whenever the man is displeased by his current circumstances.
These eyes however, under certain circumstances, change. Perhaps due to a unique mutation of some kind, or the dying embers of a long-diluted bloodlimit, Diego’s irises radiate a glowing amber whenever they are besieged by the nearby light of a flame. This effect disappears the moment the fire seizes, and so Diego himself is not even aware of this physical oddity.
In contrast, the man’s hair is something that he pays much attention to. He has short dreadlocks that were grown painstakingly and are styled with a high fade. An unorthodox hairstyle, but one which he finds most aesthetically pleasing on himself. A couple of dreadlocks at the front are dyed orange to create a flamboyant yet roguish look that keeps passerby’s staring for a few more seconds than they would’ve liked.
Upon first glance, one can easily notice his pierced ears, which are commonly adorned with golden hoop earrings. For the most part, Diego is undeterred by customs and stereotypes that might deem his choice of jewellery “unbefitting”. He is far more concerned with whether or not he thinks it looks good on him, than what other people think about his looks. For that reason, Diego often wears clothing on the flashy side.
Diego has long wiry arms that are most pronounced when viewing him from a distance. Diego, while tall in stature, seldom feels the need to lift heavy objects or push his body to its limits, leading to him possessing a slim and lanky build. His slender legs are just as lanky as the rest of his body, but not in any awkward manner as Diego instils much discipline in his gait and walking posture.
When walking into a room, each step he takes is calculated and swift, his eyes scanning intently but his head rarely bothering to swivel around.
Diego was born to parents whom could be described as mediocre at worse and regular people at best. He had a simple early childhood living in a small village in the Land of Hot-Springs, with his father being an average blue-collar worker that made just enough to keep the family from poverty. Diego's mother played the role of the caretaker, and thus was more directly involved than his father in his upbringing. His mother, while a loving and caring woman with few faults worth mentioning, was far too "soft" when it came to raising Diego. Unfortunately the boy had a naturally wicked disposition from an incredibly early age that both his parents failed to address to the degree that could've changed it. From the age of 2, Diego's mother began to notice that he was prone to destroying things, often times on purpose and with very specific intentions in mind such as to spite a particular person. "He's just a kid. He'll grow out of it." was his's father's favourite excuse whenever his mother occasionally brought up the case of Diego's unusually sadistic temperament. In his defence, overtime was a common occurrence at his job and so it was rather difficult for him to pay full attention to his family while also making enough for them to live comfortably enough.
Despite being an impetuous brat, Diego did well to integrate socially and did not struggle making friends. However he had the nasty habit of picking on the weak and undesirable, one that disturbingly went above the norm for children his age. Throughout the years, victims of his bullying the would eventually report it to their parents whom would try and take action in some way. After the first few times of being reprimanded by his parents and the parents of the children he'd bullied, Diego came up with the solution that many criminals and degenerates all came up with at some point in their childhoods; "don't get caught". Lying to and manipulating others, especially to avoid trouble was something that came rather easily to him, to the point that he was even able to convince his own parents that he had changed for the better. The fools.
However Diego's relatively peaceful life came crashing and burning without warning one day. Bandits. Marauders. Brigands. Whatever they were, there were dozens them and they prowled through the village one unfortunate night when its defences were low and razed it to the ground, killing all who opposed them and taking as much valuables as they could carry. Typical bandit stuff, but for a small village that had never been exposed to such levels of violence and fear, it might as well have been blazing hell on earth.
Diego's father was killed defending his home while him and his mother managed to escape. Diego didn't see him die, he was much too busy fleeing with his mother in abject terror, but he heard his screams, they were blood-curdling. A similar fate later met his mother when a cutthroat lunged at her from nowhere. Diego genuinely loved his mother, but for some reason his feelings of concern for her went up in flames the moment he sized up the brigand that was twice his size. He didn't wait for her to tell him to run before bolting off in a new direction put of sheer panic and fear. That was the last time he ever saw her.
---
Fast forward to years later. Diego, having been kicked out of the orphanage he had been staying at since the incident, took to a life of pickpocketing to make ends meet. His charismatic nature and nimble hands allowed him to make a decent living off of it. However, one day he pickpocketed the wrong person. A cloaked man with salt and pepper hair and stony blue eyes. Diego knew there was something different about this particular mark but he decided to steal from him anyway. Big mistake. As Diego was removing his hand after grabbing a few strange-looking gemstones, the robed man suddenly turned around and grabbed Diego's hand. The man's hands burst into flames as he held Diego, but as if resistant to the effect, Diego spat in his face, stepped on his foot and bolted off in the other direction. The man did not appear to give chase, and so Diego stopped once he thought he was in the clear. The robed man teleporting in front of him, made the young boy jump in shock. "Why are you unharmed?" he said in a gruff voice, eyes glaring suspiciously. Diego looked down to his arm in shock to find it completely unscathed. "You can have your gemstones back." he replied, scattering the gemstones unto the ground before trying to back away in fear. The older man squinted his eyes "I can sense it. Your chakra levels are... incredible"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Diego paused.
"Yes, you have the potential. What are the odds that I'd find someone like you somewhere here?"
A fireball suddenly appeared over the man's left hand. Diego's blood froze.
"Only a few people in this world can do things like this. I am what some people call a shinobi."
At that point in time, Diego's eyes begun to glow orange. The fear that was immobilising him was smothered by his newfound fascination.
"You want to learn this?"
"....Yes..."
"I won't teach you much, I'm a busy man. In fact, I shouldn't be teaching you at all. Not with the things I know. But I'll make an exception. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I let talent this rare go to waste."
---
Diego's natural talent for ninjutsu was impeccable, as the man called Fuse had guessed. After it was revealed that his chakra affinity was fire, Diego was trained in it for the week that Fuse was able to stay in town. He had mastered the basics within that time, prompting Fuse to give a set of Fire Release scrolls so he could continue to hone his talent even after he'd left. After that they both said their farewells, with Diego being extremely grateful for his newfound abilities.
"When you're ready to progress further, come find me."
Determined to make a name for himself with his chakra capabilities, Diego took his savings and left his town the next day. One day he will find the shinobi, but until then Diego chases fame and fortune, burning down anyone and anything that gets in his way.
Personality
Power, money and influence. These are the three things that drive Diego to get out of the bed in the morning. As a child and especially after the death of his parents, the young man always wanted more out of life than what he currently had. He wanted respect of, he wanted money and he wanted freedom. Freedom was the easy part, but respect and money were the two things he seriously had to strategise to earn, even before he met his teacher. Diego chases money, but often with the end-goal of using it to grow his power and influence rather than spending it lavishly.
Diego is extroverted, but not in the typical sense. He gains energy from social situations and talking to people but he does not desire to be liked nor does he like others much. When he talks, it is often to assert his dominance whenever he feels it is necessary to do so depending on the topic of conversation going on around him. As such, many could describe him as egotistical. The fear and respect of those around him is far more important than whether or not those people actually like him. He is a natural leader, but one that relies on coercion, fear, or respect to motivate others to follow him.
Diego is a practical and analytical person at heart. He appears to be decisive when he is with others, but when he is alone or lost in thought he tends to over-analyse things and can struggle with making an important decision. This is due to his nature as a profound critical thinker. However the man is far more inclined to act rashly when others are relying on his judgement. This is due to Diego despising the idea of being seen as weak by those he associates himself with. He will often go to great lengths to assert his dominance. If his piercing hot eyes aren't enough to intimidate someone that might be disrespecting him, a small show of his chakra-capabilities in the form of a hovering fire ball is usually enough to do the job.
When it is not however, Diego has no qualms with killing people. Even in public, Diego will attempt to immolate anyone behaving openly threatening or hostile towards himself. This is once again due to his burning desire to instil fear in others and not being able to tolerate disrespect. But it is having a naturally wicked disposition, along with losing his closest family members to violence and murder, that gives Diego the freedom to cross that line whenever he sees fit.
Diego believes in the value of information and knowledge, just as much as he believes in the value of money. Diego likes to read in his free time, though only studying books, news articles and concepts that he feels are relevant to his current situation. As a practical person, Diego would much rather focus on the knowledge that he can directly apply in his life rather than on completely theoretical concepts or fairy tales of any kind.
Finally, Diego is a bit witty. He does not try to act funny or elicit laughs from those around him, as he believes it make it harder for others to take him seriously. However in proving his point in a conversation, or simply verbally abusing someone that has stepped out of line, Diego will do so in a slightly creative manner that will leave others the impression that he is quite good with words. Ironically, Diego has a low sense of humour and will usually not laugh at any joke that other people tell, unless he is drunk, which is a rare circumstance in itself.
Appearance
Standing 6’1 tall, this dark skinned man has a very threatening yet exotic feel about him, like a dangerous creature from a faraway land. His appearance, even at a distance is alluring to all who notice. Contrasting hues of orange and brown radiate from his body, leaving a lasting impression on almost all who see him for the first time.
He has an almost rectangular face when viewed from a perpendicular angle with a well-sculpted square jaw that accentuates his facial features. His chocolate-coloured face is almost entirely free of scars, blemishes and pimples.
The most distinct feature about his face is easily his eyes. Harsh and analytical, his eyes are almost always narrowed at a subject unfortunate enough to peak his interest. His irises are light brown but with an unwaveringly hot intensity that seldom submits to higher authority. Truly a scary sight for any man or woman of weak will.
A particularly notable feature is the devilish smirk that often emerges when he finds himself in a particularly advantageous situation. In contrast, this grin often morphs into a particularly nasty scowl whenever the man is displeased by his current circumstances.
These eyes however, under certain circumstances, change. Perhaps due to a unique mutation of some kind, or the dying embers of a long-diluted bloodlimit, Diego’s irises radiate a glowing amber whenever they are besieged by the nearby light of a flame. This effect disappears the moment the fire seizes, and so Diego himself is not even aware of this physical oddity.
In contrast, the man’s hair is something that he pays much attention to. He has short dreadlocks that were grown painstakingly and are styled with a high fade. An unorthodox hairstyle, but one which he finds most aesthetically pleasing on himself. A couple of dreadlocks at the front are dyed orange to create a flamboyant yet roguish look that keeps passerby’s staring for a few more seconds than they would’ve liked.
Upon first glance, one can easily notice his pierced ears, which are commonly adorned with golden hoop earrings. For the most part, Diego is undeterred by customs and stereotypes that might deem his choice of jewellery “unbefitting”. He is far more concerned with whether or not he thinks it looks good on him, than what other people think about his looks. For that reason, Diego often wears clothing on the flashy side.
Diego has long wiry arms that are most pronounced when viewing him from a distance. Diego, while tall in stature, seldom feels the need to lift heavy objects or push his body to its limits, leading to him possessing a slim and lanky build. His slender legs are just as lanky as the rest of his body, but not in any awkward manner as Diego instils much discipline in his gait and walking posture.
When walking into a room, each step he takes is calculated and swift, his eyes scanning intently but his head rarely bothering to swivel around.
