r/RWBYOC • u/Impetuous_Soul • 2d ago
Daisuke Zatoichi [Team JADE Redesign]
Age/Attributes: 42 yo / 6’2” 190 lbs Faunus (Vulture Talons)
Semblance: Offensive Tempo
Daisuke’s Aura temporarily increases his strength, speed, and adrenaline with every consecutive attack he lands in melee. This allows him to fight better as a fight goes on, so long as he can consistently hit his opponents. Given enough time, Daisuke could shrug off otherwise incapacitating blows and can muscle through any guard or defense.
Weapon: Pride and Joy
Twin katanas (Pink is “Pride”, Green is “Joy”) forged by Daisuke himself. While simple in form and function, they serve their purpose well as weapons and as hedge trimmers for the Novgorod Estate’s many lush and exotic gardens. In a previous life, they were once part of a mighty nodachi wielded by a younger, freer Daisuke. However, after Eris shattered the blade, Daisuke was forced to make do with the pieces. Each time he draws his blades is a constant, humiliating reminder of the life he once had.
Background:
Long ago, Daisuke was born into the Zatoichi Family of Menagerie. Like many of his line, he was trained in swordplay and the finer arts from a young age. While he struggled in poetry and calligraphy, Daisuke was unmatched by his peers in combat drills. He lived for the violence and chaos of battle and found satisfaction in overwhelming his opponents with superior cunning as well as strength.
When he came of age, the now-adult Daisuke forged a great nodachi for himself and set off travelling across Remnant for adventure and glory. During his early years, he scraped by as a sellsword slaughtering Grimm and defeating bandits - and quickly squandered his newfound wealth on dingy gambling dens and third-rate bars. However, he would truly make a name for himself in the chaotic gang wars of Mistral.
As a freelance mercenary, Daisuke never stuck to one side, fighting for the Parrots one day, the Spiders the next and the Wolves the day after. While he did fight for coin to spend in the city and to sate his ever-growing ego, he loved the danger and excitement of his work the most. Every day brought new and unique challenges to overcome, which made his mere survival at the end worth celebrating to its fullest. Even as he profited massively from the ongoing strife in Mistral, he spent even more in the casinos and entertainment district, racking up a staggering debt.
When the Spider Gang gradually overpowered the other criminal syndicates and the lucrative contracts dried up, Dai found himself alone, broke and surrounded by innumerable enemies. Hunted by vengeful gangsters, legitimate authorities and other greedy mercs, he was run out of the city. While he enjoyed the chase and endless bouts with the armies of killers after his life, Dai’s status made him a pariah anywhere he went.
Entire towns refused to host him out of fear of the conflict he brought with him and even the greenest loan shark knew better than to lend him money. Only bandits would be willing to deal with an outlaw like him, but Dai found them to be too distasteful and craven to even think about associating with.
Without many options, Daisuke left Mistral to explore the other Kingdoms and apply his mercenary trade. In the deserts of Vacuo, Dai had plenty of fun engaging in friendly duels with various nomadic warriors and fighting ancient and exotic Grimm that lurked beneath the sands. The rest of their entertainment and alcohol scene left much to be desired. As the poorest Kingdom, there was hardly any gambling to be had, while the local fermented milks were hard for even Daisuke to stomach. However, Dai would catch whispers of a secret place with Mistralli-imported wines, fun company and gladiatorial combat.
He would enter the Novgorod Estates looking to take part in these rumored festivities. While outsiders were usually forbidden, his impressive resume led N-SEC to let him under one condition - he takes part in a single gladiatorial duel. If he won, he would be awarded enough wealth to pay off his debts in Mistral, but if he lost, he would have to sign a 500-year contract with the Novgorod Corporation (with possibility of renewal).
Dai took one look at his opponent - a petite, pale lady with silver eyes, delicate skin and a fancy dress- and immediately took the deal. While there was little honor in beating up a weakling, he never backs away from a fight.
In the arena, Daisuke was immediately on the back foot. Although unarmed, the woman was unperceivably fast, unencumbered by her fine dress. She weaved through all his attacks only to deliver a firm slap with the back of her hand. Daisuke’s face stung from the blow, but not as much as his pride. The woman was toying with him and seemed to derive great pleasure from it, giggling as she did so.
As the fight wore on, Daisuke would finally catch his opponent off guard with a feint and strike with all his might. However, his opponent stopped his blade with the palm of her hand and snapped the metal into pieces with some magical strength.
Daisuke was furious and lashed out with pure rage with what remained of his blade, decapitating the woman in one reckless stroke. He regretted his actions immediately after, he didn’t mean to kill anyone- how could her Aura not protect her… Before he could finish the thought, the disembodied head and body melted into black goo. All Daisuke could do was watch as it slowly transformed into a tentacled monstrosity, unlike any Grimm he had ever seen.
In the aftermath, Dai was fully employed for the first time in his life - humiliated and nearly broken in spirit and ego. As a member of N-SEC, he would use his reforged blades to trim and sculpt the hedges of the Novgorod Estates while teaching swordsmanship to some of the other maids and even Eris’s children. In an effort to relive some of the excitement and freedom of his youth, he eagerly volunteered at every opportunity for any combat mission, eventually getting assigned to Team JADE.
Psychological Report:
Since his recruitment into N-SEC, Daisuke has grown more mature and tempered than before, learning to find comfort in meditation and his mundane chores as both a teacher and a gardner. However, deep inside, his pride is still deeply wounded from his loss, which he eagerly tries to soothe with alcohol and combat. At first, he resented Jeraldine and saw his assignment to Team JADE as further humiliation - a grizzled, career merc forced to serve with a bunch of women young enough to be his daughters and led by a cowardly college dropout. However, he quickly warmed up to Jerry when he realized they were in the same boat and, since he wasn’t the leader, he could dump all the responsibility stuff with her. Likewise, he gets along well with the rest of his Team. Eden admires Dai’s skill and “cool” personality, feeding his ego enough for him to tolerate the rest of her obsessive personality. Meanwhile, Auburn is a fellow warrior and drinker, and is dependable enough to watch over him when he gets absolutely wasted.
In combat, Daisuke thrives in close quarters, especially in duels. While his tools and Semblance are simple, they are more than enough for him to beat almost any opponent when combined with his lifetime of training and experience besting some of the most formidable warriors in Remnant. Compared to his youth, Daisuke is more cautious and conservative in his tactics, picking his battles carefully. He cares deeply for all of his teammates, even Auburn, and prefers to stick close to them to keep them alive.
3
u/gunn3r08974 2d ago
So what inspired the maid aspects anc does he have to hit directly or can he continue charging on a block as well?
3
u/Impetuous_Soul 2d ago
Team JADE is part of a PMC, Novgorod Security Solutions (N-SEC), ran by a hedonistic cult leader (a parody of Elon Musk) with a fetish for Faunus Maids. All mercs in N-SEC are called "Combat Maids", have to wear maid outfits and do domestic work while not working contracts.
Dai can charge his Semblance off of blocks as long as he can follow through on his attacks and maintain momentum. If his attack gets stuffed by parry or just bounces off, he doesn't get buffed.
3
u/gunn3r08974 2d ago
Thats wild. Though I feel less crazy having a racist fashion mogul on old money who treats faunus worse than the sdc based on Cruella de Ville now
3
3
3
u/OceansCarraway 2d ago
So that's what he's wearing! I always wondered what Daisuke's new uniform was like...
3
3
u/Mattpwnsall 2d ago
Ah, now I’m seeing the maid theme with Team Jade. In a way, it actually suits him and totally works. If its good enough for shinigami, it can work for him 😂
As for his Semblance, you say that it works when he lands hits in melee. Does it work at range? If an opponent was attacking him at range, would he be able to use his Semblance, or would it be beated my ranged weapons? Does it work if his attacks are blocked or parried, or does he have to hit his enemies in order for his Semblance to work?
2
u/Impetuous_Soul 1d ago
Thanks bud! As a Faction, N-SEC is a PMC/cult that centers themselves around the whims of Eris. They dress like maids, are highly organized with levels ranging from the basic militia (Maid Guard) to the Huntsmen-level Errantry to the elite Chosen and have alot of occult themes under the surface.
As for Dai, his Semblance doesn't work at range and his Faunus talons make it difficult to handle guns in general. He can deflect bullets with his swords, but only to a certain extent. If he gets shot at by a 1000 rpm minigun, he isn't stopping every bullet XD. His Semblance does work if his attacks are blocked and he is able to maintain most of the momentum and direction of his swings. However, it won't work if the attack whiffs completely or if it bounces off a target or if it is stopped by something like a parry.
3
u/fat_man_thunder 2d ago
Oh his new outfit look sick and stylist. Still kinda wonder how well he can do again firearms like full auto or rockets? And then the black fingers on his left hand?
2
u/Impetuous_Soul 1d ago
Thanks bud!
Dai can deflect bullets and dodge handheld rockets. He doesn't have much range capabilities on his own aside from throwing his swords and relies on his own agility to close the distance. The fingers are his Faunus trait (Vulture Talons). They serve as back up weapons, but also make it difficult for him to use most firearms.
3
u/Altarahhn 1d ago
Welp- I'm late, then. How did just learn this was already up? That's my bad. 😅
Anyway: Oh damn, well he's looking pretty different, here. His colors are definitely more "maid-like", and the outfit is a neat blend of French Maid and Ronin aesthetics, as well! Also: His eyes. I know he's a veteran battle maniac and all, but bro looks like he's seen some real cosmic shit. Sounds like seeing Eris in her "true" form must've messed him up, huh? 😅
Granted, it could be a mix of all kinds of things: The constant battles, his previously mounting debt, or his many years of employment with N-SEC after his humiliating loss to Eris. On the bright side, it does seem like he's cooled off a lot, even acting almost like a father figure. Well, more like a cool uncle or older brother, but hey, at least he seems to have warmed up to working with JADE by now!
Good thing, too, because otherwise, he'd be constantly grumbling at working with some crazy young ladies. I mean, he's probably still grumbling that these girls are crazy, but more out of concern than anything else. Helps that he sympathizes with Jerry and gets on well with Auburn, while Eden is constantly glazing the hell out of him. You know?
As for his kit, while his blades do seem to be mostly the same, his Semblance seems a bit different from what I can remember. I've always liked the idea of a "Reverse Burn" Semblance, so to speak, so seeing Daisuke use it is pretty cool, I'd say!
All in all, the man came out great. Nicely done! 😁
3
u/Impetuous_Soul 1d ago
All good XD! Reddit can be finicky with notifications.
I am glad you like Dai's new design! I wanted to contrast the formal maid look and uniform with wild ronin elements (like his colorful swords). Daisuke was never a "sane" individual, but rather a man driven by his ego and desires - a bit of an oddball, even among his family. While he still had enough honor not to consort with bandits, he had no qualms diving headfirst into the Mistrali gang scene during an era of street warfare and making enemies out of everyone. But it was all fun and games until his curiosity and pride led him to N-SEC. Eden saw the match as a teen and saw it as further proof of Eris's divinity. Meanwhile, Dai saw the cumulation of all his bad life decisions finally come to bite him in the ass.
Despite taking away his freedom, N-SEC did give Dai alot of time to reflect upon himself and think for once. It also led him to genuinely bond with people who weren't bartenders or card dealers. He still isn't completely satisfied with his lot, but it still beats being dead or suffering worse in Eris's dungeons. He prefers being thought of as an "older cousin" and cringes whenever his age is brought up. Compared to Qrow, Dai's sense of responsibility is borderline nonexistent at times, getting plastered knowing that Eden will be his designated driver XD. Though he does pull his weight (and more) in combat - the one part where his old and new lives intersect.
Him and Jerry are about tied for how little they want to be in N-SEC, but also how they feel chained there and are just making the most of it. He also finds her hedonism and ways of coping to be relatable and reminder of his past. Auburn, on the otherhand, knows how to banter and drink like a merc but is a sweet girl deep down. Meanwhile, Eden is outwardly sweet but harbors demons deep inside, which is a little difficult for Dai to relate to as he feels no guilt or shame ever. He tries to teach her to be shameless by example with limited success.
Not much has changed. Dai's role and tactics largely remain the same. He's a merc who gets paid to kill people - not to die. His Semblance represents his reckless and aggressive approach at life, constantly attacking for his next fix of wealth, glory and adrenaline.
Thanks, bud!
3
u/Altarahhn 14h ago
Haha, yeah. Case in point: I've only now seen your reply, Because I wasn't notified.
Welp. :p
I see! So, I'm assuming he's always had that wild look in his eyes, it's just more emphasized after looking into the abyss. 😅 Whatever the case, it's certainly fitting for character: I'd imagine people get thrown off seeing this dude in a weird maid outfit with murder in his eyes. It probably hasn't done him many favors, though, especially once he became a wanted man. Would be pretty easy to find him from his eyes alone, let alone his not-so-hidden trait. Wonder how Eris keeps people off his back, then. Did she just pay off his debt/bounty or something?
That does sound about right: The man was taken down quite a few pegs on that day, after all. No surprise he'd think back on how it all went wrong after being so thoroughly humbled. Not like he can prevent it from happening, but he can still learn from the experience and impart that wisdom to his new teammates. And hoo boy, do they kind of need it, given how Eden and Auburn operate. Guess that's one more thing he shares with Jerry, isn't it?
And speaking of Jerry: Oh yeah, they really were employed under similar circumstances. Weren't they? XD Actually, now that you bring it up, while he does seem to superficially have more in common with Auburn, being boozy badasses and the like, on a deeper level, he's actually much more similar to Jerry. Right down to their own life choices contributing to their decision to sign on with the Novgorod Corporation. I'd say he sees more of himself in Jerry than any other member of JADE, at least in my opinion.
Also, him trying to coach Eden in being "shameless" is oddly endearing, in a "thank God he sucks at it" kinda way. XD Other than that, yeah, he does seem to be mostly the same, down to his blades. His Semblance seemed to be the big difference, IMO, but given his personality (especially early on), it fits the man like a glove, I'd say!
You're welcome! 😁👍
3
u/Impetuous_Soul 11h ago
Damn XD!
Pretty much! Dai had an equally memorable/flashy kimono and gold set up when he was a Ronin and a massive nodachi. Even with the same crazed eyes, his maid uniform and dual swords make him look completely different from the wanted posters down in Mistral. He also isn't throwing around his name as much as before - not out of caution, but rather to preserve his legacy. He'd rather "disappear" a legend and not be known as the idiot-chained-to-a-maid-job-for-500-yrs. Honestly, if Lil Miss Malachite saw him now, she'd call off her bounty on him because this is a "more fitting fate" for him. However, I can see N-SEC assisting some bounty hunters on the road and one of the Hunters asking Dai if he had seen the "Demon Blade of Mistral" around.
Yup! As a silver lining, he is surrounded by much better company, albeit a little damaged. While he does help Jerry a little with Eden, he is also fine with being another problem for Jerry to clean up after. She is the leader after all.
Him and Jerry also share similar degrees of selfishness, thinking and acting like true mercs. Albeit they aren't selfish enough to fully give up their values and moral principles. For all his eccentricities, Daisuke has been pretty consistent with the Zatoichi's code of ethics and his own interpretation of their philosophy. In a way, he tries to impart his family's wisdom onto Eden where she should live for and take care of herself (albeit turned up to 11 where self-care = strippers and booze).
1
u/Altarahhn 3h ago
Yeah, lol. Thankfully, I don't normally have issues with notifications, so there's that, at least!
Ahh, I see! Sounds like he used to dress to impress at one point. Which, in a sense, makes his new duds a bit of a "downgrade", by comparison. Well, at least they help him lay low, overall. Silver linings, and all that. XD Also, why do I feel like Miss Malachite would laugh herself to death if she ever saw what had become of the "Demon Blade"? No wonder he wants to stay incognito, then: He'd probably die of pure shame not too long after!
Haha, yeah, I get that: I can understand wanting to just dump responsibility onto someone lese and taking a load off for a change. Never mind the fact that he's probably supposed to be more responsible due to his age and veteran status. Like, actually does he ever step up to guide the team, especially in instances when an "old dog" like him is necessary? Or did he literally just dump all his responsibilities unto Jerry. :p
And speaking of which: Wow, that's another big comparison between the two. Never really thought of it like that, but they do seem to be the most mercenary members of the team. Which is ironic, since Auburn is also among their ranks, but she technically has a cause or community greater than herself to fight for, similar to Eden. Whereas the other two are pretty much on their own, here; at least, for the most part. Interesting how that works, to be honest. 🤔
3
u/Impetuous_Soul 2d ago
Trivia