Now You Feel Like Number None [Bleach Arrancar Quest]

Omicron · Apr 7, 2017

You live in a world of endless night.

You are a monster born out of a legend. When a mortal dies with a soul weighted down by regret and earthly passions, her ghost lingers on as a tormented creature. Eventually, grief consumes this soul, and it becomes a monster. Plagued by a hunger for the souls of others, these Hollows may eventually turn on each other; and from their great interdevouring are born the greater horrors of the dead, which flee the abhorrent sun into a world of their own making.

In a world of endless silver sands, under a starless night and a laughing moon, the greater dead eke out a life of eternal hunger, ever feasting upon each other. For centuries, all you knew was this hunger and the howling of the thousand souls within you. To even remain a single person - to keep your identity, your sense of self - took all your effort and resolve. It took more than this. It took consuming the souls of others just as powerful and tormented as you were; you sew together the cracks in your being with the spiritual energies of countless others.

If ever you failed, if ever you faltered in your feast, you would fall back; your sense of self would be torn apart by the howling storm of souls within you. You had to kill. You had to live.

And then… A man came to you, a man of a kind that should have by all rights killed you. He saw in you a glimmer of potential, however dim, and showed you how to break free of your chains. For ages you had worn a mask to hide your pain and self-loathing; but he showed you how to break that mask and reveal to the world a face full of certainty and purpose.

And when he told you of his quest to claim the throne of God in the skies, you bent the knee and swore loyalty to him.

The hunger was gone. But ambition remains.

***

Character Creation

You are Nemo Elcorbuzier, Arrancar #48, a low-ranking servant to Sozuke Aizen, the lord of Las Noches.

Once, you could have been a valuable soldier in his war against the treacherous death-gods which would seek to destroy your kind; but alas the world has shifted under your feet. You are a member of the old generation of Arrancars, created by breaking your own mask in a harsh, painful, bloody process. Your spiritual power was never the highest, and now a new generation of Arrancars is being born; your master has recovered a gem of unimaginable power which he is using to create new, even more powerful Arrancars. Relegated to the lowest ranks of his army of souls, you wish both to claim your moment in the light, the respect of those around you, and simply to survive the terrible, deadly whims of the monsters which compose the higher ranks of Aizen's army.

[ ] What do you look like?

Even in your precarious situation, your power is not insignificant. You are the living testimony to the disturbing closeness between Hollows and Shinigami; blending the features of both in a single form, you hold a spiritual power that ordinary Hollows would dread to face. Although you have not seen a Shinigami in centuries, you are assured that your power as an Arrancar would allow you to defeat all but the fabled "seated officers" of their inquisitorial army. You have demonstrated innate skills in all core aspect of Hollow powers:

Combat Arts - The overall fighting skills of the Arrancars. Because of your half-Hollow nature, this training covered both sword-fighting and a unique unarmed style exploiting whatever form you assume when releasing your zanpakuto. This skill represents speed, accuracy and strength in melee combat.
Physical Enhancement - Their flesh suffused with reiatsu, spiritual energy, the Arrancars back up their fighting skills with strengthened bodies. Of particular note are the Sonido, the ability to create bursts of speed to move faster than sight, and Hierro, the ability to strengthen one's skin to resist attacks.
Energy Release - Unlike the Shinigami, who have centuries of traditions in harnessing their energy as magical spells, the Arrancars do so in a much more innate and visceral way. Cero, the ability to hurl beams of spiritual energy, and Bala, the ability to throw small projectiles, are their two most notable assets.
Energy Manipulation - The Arrancars are invested with considerable spiritual energy, but their lack of formal training limits their ability to use it efficiently. Those who wish to survive learn to control their power to make it last longer, to cow others with their auras, or simply to perceive and read the energy of others.

Like all Arrancars, you were reborn with innate talents in all these skills, but there is one in which you manifested more gifts. Which one?

[ ] Combat Arts.
[ ] Physical Enhancement.
[ ] Energy Release.
[ ] Energy Manipulation.

As you were reborn an aberration, a half-Hollow half-Shinigami, a fragment of your mask was reforged into a sword, bound to your soul. This is your zanpakuto, your soul-cutter, and if you call upon its name you will undergo resurreccion, regaining your lost Hollow powers.

What kind of power does your sword grant you? Feel free to suggest specific abilities, which may be included in a later vote for exact powers.

[ ] Enhancement-type.
The most common form of resurreccion, this changes your body into a more powerful shape, increasing your strength, resistance and mobility, and exchanging your sword for some kind of natural weapon. These are the most straightforward releases, and the most efficient in terms of energy consumption.

[ ] Range-type.
Often blending in with the ability to use Cero or Bala, such a release focuses on the ability to attack at a distance. While it provides less versatility than an enhanced body, such resurreccions often have the highest spikes of power and can be used to utterly overwhelm an enemy.

[ ] Trick-type.
The wild card of resurreccions, such a release grants you some strange, unique ability that will often take even the most cautious of opponents off-guard. Such abilities rarely have intense power, but must be engaged in a specific way to defeat them or else hold a tremendous advantage.

Finally, all Arrancars have a history, and some of them have walked strange paths to get where they are. Do you possess one or more of the following unique traits?

[ ] High-Speed Regeneration.
Hollows possess the innate ability to regenerate wounds at great speed; However, most Arrancars choose to shed this ability upon assuming their new form so as to make their bodies stronger; one who does not get hurt in the first place need not heal. Only a few arrancars refuse that sacrifice. Start with Physical Enhancement one level lower, but gain a Beginner rank in Advanced Skill: High-Speed Regeneration.

[ ] Gillian origin.
Most Arrancars considered worth sending to battle were once Adjuchas, the second rank of Menos Grande, whose shape solidified out of the chorus of souls into a clear form. Few Gillian-born Arrancars hold the spiritual power necessary to warrant consideration by lord Aizen - but those few who merit such distinction tend to have peculiar abilities compensating for their weakness. Start with Energy Manipulation one level lower, but gain a Beginner rank in Advanced Skill: Spiritual Consumption.

[ ] Acid Touch.
The reiatsu of Hollows is spiritually poisonous to mortal, burning them with a touch. Spiritually potent beings like Shinigami are immune to such effects, and so Arrancars tend to abandon this ability as they transform; but a few retain this ability and develop it to levels potent enough to harm even peer opponents - but this power does not intersect well with ordinary fighting styles. Start with Combat Arts one level lower, but gain a Beginner rank in Advanced Skill: Destructive Touch.

Omicron · Apr 7, 2017

Welcome to Now You Feel Like Number None. Set in the setting of Bleach and inspired by @Maugan Ra's very own We Stand in Awe, this Quest aims to follow the adventures of a low-ranking member of Aizen's army in the short time preceding their first assault on Karakura Town.

Full disclosure: I have a lot of bones to pick with Bleach's canon, and we're going to play fast and loose with it, especially with everything that follows the Hueco Mundo arc.

Although this Quest is narratively driven (no dice-rolling or exact stat calculation), we will be using a system of "ranks" to assess the respective powers of characters, measure your growth and comparative abilities. These ranks are bought with xp and the entire thing is more or less ripped off from We Stand in Awe, so sue me. To earn XP, you can finish narrative arcs, perform impressive in-character deeds, undergo training montages in "downtime," and things of that caliber.

Chargen is above; I've already picked a name because I love bad puns and dumb architect references in Arrancar names. Also you're a female character because there's, like, two female Arrancars that matter in canon and it's a tragedy.

The ranking system:

Incapable - Not technically a level as such, this will only show up on a character sheet in the rare event that some circumstance makes it utterly impossible for you to learn or use a particular skill.
Untrained - This represents the baseline, what you can accomplish without any focused training.
Student (100xp) - Having received some basic training in the skill in question, you have started down the long road to mastery. For humans and shinigamis, this level almost always requires that someone specifically educate you in the skill in question, though future improvements can be attained through solo practice. Many Hollows are born with such innate ability, however.
Adept (200xp) - You have supplemented your initial lessons with hard-won experience, and can now employ the skill with considerable confidence. This level is considered 'average' for an unranked shinigami, and is the baseline skill level of most "natural" Arrancars.
Skilled (400xp) - Your proficiency with the skill is worthy of note among the ranks of spirits. Seated officers of the Gotei 13 will virtually always have at least one skill at this rank, increasing as they climb in status. "Artificial" Arrancars typically have this as their baseline level, showing their inborn superiority.
Veteran (800xp) - Such levels of powers are noteworthy among the ranks of Aizen's armies, and Arrancars showcasing such power are often recruited as Fraccion by the powerful Espada.
Master (1600xp) - You are truly a force to be reckoned with, and others will seek you out for advice and guidance in improving their own skills to a similar level. This level of fundational skill is typical of shinigami Captain and Espada.
Champion (2400xp) - Your skill is awe-inspiring, capable of sweeping aside those of lesser worth with minimal effort. Most Espada and shinigami Captains hold this rank in their areas of individual focus.
Legendary (3200xp) - You have reached the absolute pinnacle of what is possible for this skill, and any future improvements will be of the tiniest increment at best. Perhaps one person in all of Las Noches has such proficiency.

Omicron · Apr 7, 2017

Art by TheOneMoiderah

Name: Nemo Elcorbuzier
Position: Arrancar #48

Description

You are a woman of short stature, with a build that borders on malnourished. Your face is adorned with a flat mask, featureless but for two horns curving out from above your brow, not unlike ribbed antennas. Cracks run through the cheeks of the mask and the bottom has been torn off to reveal your mouth. Other than that, the only uncovered feature are your large brown eyes, which stare doe-like at the world from your mask's round eyelets. Your white Arrancar uniform is completed by a scarf of black fabric stolen from a Gillian and beautifully woven with silver thread. Your sword is a thing of dull grey iron, forged like a shortened lance with sharp edges, crude and brutally efficient. Your hollow hole punches through the base of your throat, and is generally at least half-hidden under your cloak.

Primary Combat Skills

Combat Arts: Veteran (Unfavored)
- XP 0/2400
- Your skills with the blade and in unarmed combat are incomparable to human nature and exist in the realm of potent spirits. A specialist in unarmed combat mixed with Bala, your arms parry blows as well as any sword and hit just as hard, sacrificing reach for flexibility. You have mastered the Butterfly Stance and Hornet Stance, allowing you to switch between a floaty, fluid style setting up high-damage attacks, and a frenzied, harassing style raining rapid blows all around the battlefield.
Physical Enhancement:
- Sonido: Veteran (Unfavored)
  - XP 25/2400
  - Your possess true supernatural speed. You can run inhumanly fast over great distances, perform feats of perilous acrobatics with casual ease, and easily use the "airstep" in the living world. Your burst speed allows you to exploit Sonido while engaged in close combat, dodging attacks, retreating from battle, or stepping behind an opponent to strike them in the back. You can run up sheer walls and even ceilings, and stay attached to any surface for a few seconds. Even in the spirit world, you can form reishi platforms to perform a single airstep between touching a solid surface twice.
- Hierro: Skilled (Unfavored)
  - XP 225/1200
  - Your hardened skin makes you immune to most natural hazards, and gives you a measure of resistance against attacks using elemental powers or raw spiritual energy. An instant's thought hardens your skin to provide considerable resistance to physical attacks, to the point of immunity against base Hollows and unseated shinigami, as well as significantly reducing the damage of peer opponents.
Energy Release:
- Cero: Master(Favored)
  - XP 100/1800
  - Your Cero has grown to the heights of power normally reserved for the Espada. Your wind-up is short enough to use Veteran-level Ceros in melee combat and Master-level Ceros with only short preparation. Its power can level a city block. Cero Fantasma allows you to release your energy in a wave around you, reducing direct power for the sake of a wider area of effect. Cero Triste allows you to tap into your target's memories and trauma to create haunting phantoms. At great cost you may use the Gran Rey Cero, one of the most destructive energy releases possible.
- Bala: Master (Favored)
  - XP 50/1800
  - You are one of the very few Bala specialists in Las Noches. With mastery of the form, your Balas can be a light punch or a wall-shattering cannonball, a single accurate blow or a wild barrage of a dozen, and its knockback effects you both control of range and heavy damage as well as seamlessly blending into your close-range combat. Your Bala Envolver causes a lingering effect which restrains your opponent's movements, cumulative with successive hits. This effect unravels if you can't keep up the pressure, but if you have layered enough hits, you may sacrifice the fraying bindings to cause your opponent to disappear from the world for a short while.
Energy Manipulation:
- Reiatsu Control: Master (Favored)
  - XP 300/1800
  - Your masterful control over your own energy allows you to spare your reserves throughout a fight, allowing you to last longer. You can flare your reiatsu to cow Hollows, most Numeros and low-seated shinigami, even impairing Fraccion-level opponents. You can suppress your reiatsu to become undetectable to those with Reiatsu Perception lower than your Control, and when you do so you surround yourself in a psychic aura that makes you less noticeable and more quiet. While suppressing your reiatsu, you may manipulate shadows to cause distractions. While flaring it and with an effort of focus, you may use these shadows to disrupt abilities that require concentration.
- Reiatsu Perception: Veteran (Unfavored)
  - XP 0/2400
  - You can gauge the relative power of spiritual opponents from a distance, allowing you to know whether you are outmatched before a blow is struck. You can perform Pesquisa, sending out a probing wave in a large radius that will pinpoint the location and power of spiritual beings, without revealing your own position. You can get a small glimpse of the power of someone who is suppressing their reiatsu, and sense the ebb and flow of their power well enough to warn you of more dangerous attacks. Powerful reiatsu is mesmerizing to you, and you catch hints at others' nature, strength and weaknesses in their power, though it can at times overwhelm you.

Advanced Skills

High-Speed Regeneration: Second Blood
- XP 1350/1500
- You naturally heal any damage to your body except brain damage or internal organ loss. While your natural healing is on the scale of hours, you may expend spiritual energy to heal wounds within seconds. Lost limbs heal in a few days, but you may not accelerate this process.
Descorrer: Third Door
- XP 0/2000
- You have acquired mastery of the whispering pathways that connect the realms, and may walk them alongside reality, emerging anywhere you please. You have the ability to open a Garganta, a shadowy portal between place, with only a few seconds and a simple wave of your hand. This allows you to reach any specific place you've been to previously, or which you are given a decent a description of or distance to. You may open Gargantas connecting different points of the same realm, allowing for instant travel over hundreds of miles.
Marana: Fourth Weave
- XP -/-
- The art of magical sewing and tailoring. Through it you may take spiritually potent materials and shape them into useful clothing, garments, jewelry, and other worn items. You have earned the rank of Master, taking Alphonse's place as the Tailor of Las Noches. You may blend complexity and potency, drawing the most power out of the most esoteric reagents and weaving them together into a single whole, even binding souls together. The miracle of the creation of life may be within your grasp. You have five attunement slots with which to wear your creations.
Brujeria: First Secret
- XP 1000/1000
- The path of the witch, the magic of Hollows; the art of conjuring that which is-not. You are only a student on this path, and cannot hope to master it as the Tres Bestias did in the time you have; instead you focus on one singular spell, intrinsic o your soul, the Witch-Worm: by taking the hunger of the Hollows from within your memories and those of a version of you that never was, you may infect another's spell as they cas it, causing it to go awry in a manner characteristic of Hollow hunger. Higher levels of Brujeria increase effectiveness and the level of spells which can be affected, or what even counts as a "spell."
- The Corruption of the Sun. The spell taught you by Sung-Sun, drawn from your own nightmare vision. By holding a torn-out eye, you infuse power into it, turning it into a black star which drinks light and casts shadows even in broad daylight, hovering above the battlefield.

Zanpakutō Skills

Name: Polilla
Description: A simple blade of dull, grey iron, well-suited for piercing through enemies and reminiscent of a lance, shortened down to arm-length and given sharp edges.

Release Command: Challenge
Resurreccion: Upon release, cracks form on your fractured mask and your blade, leaking a harsh radiance. The cracks spread until they cover your body, flaring bright enough to blind those who look at you at the moment of transformation, bursting from your shell with a sickening sound. As this last flash of light fades away and dies, the empty shell that was once your body hangs like a puppet where you stood. Black dust seeps out from the cracks in the now-brittle skin, consuming it until the only feature left uncovered is your bone-white mask, its eyes dark pits. When you move, you leave a trail of black motes behind you. You like to pretend they form wings. In this form you weigh nearly nothing, a creature of dust and shadow in a hollow shell, and your spells take on a dark cast.

Skill level: Master
- XP 0/2400
- Queen of Souls and Shadows. When you enter Resurreccion while in shadows, you rise up and hover in the air, losing the benefits of mobility. You can no longer use Sonido, and can only dart from side to side or slowly drift over a distance. However, your Hierro rank effectively increases by one rank.
- Grave of Shadows. All shadows in a wide area become yours to wield as true weapons. You see through them, can stretch and move them at will, can form them into blades and bindings, and can use them to shield yourself from attacks. Though you cannot walk or fly, you can use the shadows as a form of quickened Descorrer to relocate yourself, though this takes a few seconds. The number and versatility of your shadows is determined by your Reiatsu Control, while their strength as weapons, shields or bindings is determined by your Combat Arts.
- An Answer to Pain. Your ability to weave shadows can serve to fuel your power. You may turn shadow to black dust, reweaving your body; this allows you heal non-lethal wounds quickly and inexpensively, and amputation or life-threatening wounds within seconds at greater cost. Alternatively, you may use shadows o directly power your energy attacks. This power intensifies the more you are wounded and your dust mixes into the shadows around you, but you cannot use it at the same time as your healing. Shadows which fuel you may not be shaped into weapons.
- If all shadows in the area are banished, you return to your Veteran-level Resurreccion, though you enjoy a weak version of Grave of Shadows.

Veteran-level traits:
- Your effective Sonido rank increases, allowing you to precisely control your Sonido's range and timing and to mix it in a series of attacks. While performing Sonido you turn immaterial, allowing you to go through obstacles and opponents and making you effectively immune to most attacks during the brief moment of your step.
- Your effective High-Speed Regeneration rank increases as long as you are standing still in shadows, allowing you to heal non-lethal damage within seconds without burning energy as long as you stand still, or to consume your energy to regenerate limbs or wounds that would otherwise kill you.
- While Polilla disappears in your Resurreccion, you can briefly conjure an image of it from shadow, allowing you to perform quick and sharp draw-cuts. You can blend these into your improved Sonido for flash-cuts, and your shadow-cuts being partially immaterial reduces the effectiveness of external defenses such as Hierro.
- Your Resurreccion has two major weaknesses. First, its healing ability requires shadows, and is negated both by total illumination and total darkness. Second, your shadow-blade is too short-lived to effectively parry, so you must rely purely dodging to defend against attacks, or else endure the hits and heal them afterwards.
- An Answer to Pain. Your ability to weave shadow-dust extends further than regeneration. You can sense shadowed things around you even if you can't see them, cause false silhouettes as distractions and consume shadows to fuel your energy attacks. This power intensifies the more you are wounded and your dust mixes into the shadows around you, but you cannot use it at the same time as your healing.

Mundane Skills

Style: Champion
- XP -/-
- There is only one recipe, which is all of cooking. There is only one song, which is all of music. There is only one step, which is all of dancing. The art of service is a second nature to you, and you no longer think of its aspects in terms of separate skills and lessons, but only as a single fluid motion through the world. You are an agreeable presence to all, who seems to blink out of existence when she is no longer needed. The picture of propriety, you embody composure and grace such that even magic which seeks to read your thoughts and emotions slides uselessly off you.
Medicine: Master
- XP 0/1200
- You have reached the level of proficiency that was once Esmeralda's domain alone - although you suffer from the lack of the potent reagents she had at her disposal. Under your touch, minors cuts and burns disappear, and clean fractures seem to heal as quickly as might heavy bruises. You are wise in the lore of sickness, can identify internal injuries with but a moment's proding, and have deep knowledge of the particular quirks of spiritual anatomy. With proper tools, you can grant first aid on the battlefield that is effective enough to return people to battle, though diminished. If someone provides you with their amputated limb, you can sew it back on at minimal loss in strength.

Equipment

Memory Glove
- Woven out of the fur cloak of Ashido Kano, the Masked Hunter, this glove can draw on the power of reminiscence. By touching an item or a person, the wearer may conjure an image from its past.
Beastly Bracelet
- Made out of Grimmjow's claws, this bracelet hones the wearer's senses to predatory acuity. I can either passively enhance all senses to a minor extent, or enhance a single sense to a much greater onewith the wearer's focus.
Dream of Flight
- A necklace of bright carved beads, made of the glass forged when Cirucci Ascendente's lightning struck the sands of the coliseum. When Nemo feels joy, exaltation, freedom or glory, she can fly with ease and grace in any realm.
Doubting Glove
- A left-handed glove made out of the tanned skin of Luppi's tentacles. When you fight someone whose beliefs, principles, or relationships are being challenged or cast into doubt - whether by your own actions or not - that glove heightens the power of Bala Envolver against them, turning its slowing curse into physical bonds which you can manipulate, tying your enemy in ropes of their own uncertainty.
Cloak of Reclaiming
- A patterned black-and-white cloak split into four folds, unfolding like an agile moth's wings when in use. It grants the ability to fly freely even in places where air-step is not available, and grants increased agility in places where it is.

XP log:
Canon Omake: The Spider Express, NonSequtur (100xp -> Reiatsu Control)
Canon Omake: Spider Friend, Tempera (100xp -> Cero)
Canon Omake: Distraction, NonSequtur (100xp -> Resurreccion)
Canon Omake: The Moonlit Desert, Chronic (100xp -> Sonido)
Canon Omake: The Fall, Floom (100xp -> Sonido)
Omake: Training Grounds, Andres110 (50xp -> Sonido)
Omake: Window Shopping, Chronic (50xp -> Hierro)
Canon Omake: Like a Moth, Zhade (100xp -> Hierro)
End of Arc 1: 400xp (300 -> Reiatsu Control, 50 -> Hierro, 50 -> Sonido)
Omake: Grand Couturier, Revlid (50xp -> Cero)
Canon Omake: spared, Tempera (100xp -> Cero)
Fanart: lifeofgesture (100xp -> Resurreccion)
Fanart: JetmechJr (100xp -> Resurreccion)
Fanart: JetmechJr (100xp -> Resurreccion)
Fanart: NonSequtur's Sister (100xp -> Cero)
Fanart: lifeofgesture (50xp -> Sonido)
Fanart: Ylamona (100xp -> Sonido)
Fanart: lifeofgesture (100xp -> Sonido)
Fanart: Ylamona (50xp -> Sonido)
Fanart: Zilla (50xp -> Cero)
Fanart: Zilla (50xp -> Descorrer)
Fanart: JetmechJr (100xp -> Resurreccion)
Fanart: Tempera (200xp -> Cero)
Omake: NonSequtur (100xp -> Cero)
Canon Write-In: Revlid (100xp -> Cero)
End of Arc 2: 400xp
Fanart: Zilla (50xp -> Descorrer)
Canon Omake: Stormwhite (100xp -> Style)
Omake: Viva01 (50xp -> Reiatsu Control, bonys 25xp to Cirucci)
Omake: Viva01 (50xp -> Reiatsu Control)
Omake: Viva01 (50xp -> Reiatsu Control)
Fanart: lifeofgesture (50xp -> Reiatsu Control)
Fanart: Zilla (50xp -> Descorrer)
Omake: Zilla (50xp -> Descorrer)
Canon Omake: Revlid (100xp -> Marana, bonus 50xp -> Cirucci)
Canon Omake: Tempera (100xp -> Cirucci, bonus 50xp -> Cirucci)
Canon Omake: NonSequtur (50xp -> Reiatsu Control, 50xp -> Descorrer)
Canon Omake: Zhade (100xp -> Style)
Omake: Zhade (100xp -> Style, 50xp -> Cirucci)
Omake: Zilla (50xp-> Reiatsu Control)
Canon Omake: Revlid (100xp -> Marana, 50xp -> Cirucci)
Canon Omake: Viva01 (50xp -> Cero)
Fanart: lifeofgesture (100xp -> Cirucci, 50xp to Cirucci)
Omake: Zilla (50xp -> Descorrer)
Canon Omake: Chronic (50xp -> Hierro)
Omake: Chronic: (50xp -> Hierro)
Omake: Zilla (50xp -> Descorrer)
Omake: Revlid (100xp -> Marana, 50xp to Cirucci)
Canon Omake: Tempera (100xp -> Bala)
Omake: Revlid (200xp -> Marana, 100xp to Cirucci)
Omake: Zilla (50xp -> Descorrer)
Omake: Zilla (50xp -> Descorrer)
Omake: Zilla (50xp -> Descorrer)
Omake: Zilla (50xp -> Descorrer)
Omake: Revlid (100xp -> Cirucci)
Fanart: lifeofgesture (100xp -> Cirucci)
Omake: Zilla (50xp -> Descorrer)
Omake: Daecl (50xp -> Hierro)
Omake: Orisha91 (50xp -> Hierro)
Fanart: Revlid (50xp -> Cirucci)
Fanart: ManusDomine (100xp -> Bala)
Omake: Zilla (50xp -> Descorrer)
Omake: The Phoenixian (50xp -> Reiatsu Perception)
Omake: lifeofgesture (50xp -> Cirucci)
Canon Omake: Revlid (100xp -> Cirucci)
Fanart: Coshiua (100xp -> Cirucci, 50xp to Cirucci)
Omake: Zilla (50xp -> Descorrer)
Fanart: Coshiua (50xp -> Cirucci)
Omake: Floom (50xp -> Resurreccion)
Canon Omake: Revlid (100xp, 50xp to Cirucci)
Omake: NonSequtur (100xp -> HSR)
End of Arc 3: 800xp (600xp to Bala, 200xp to Resurreccion)
Canon Omake: Revlid (100xp -> Cirucci)
Omake: Tempera (100xp -> Cirucci, 50xp to Cirucci)
Omake: Zilla (50xp -> Descorrer, 25 to Cirucci)
Omake: Zilla (50xp -> Descorrer)
Omake: Zilla (50xp -> Descorrer, 25 to Cirucci)
Canon Omake: NonSequtur (100xp -> HSR)
Canon Omake: Tempera (100xp -> Cirucci, 50xp to Cirucci)
Canon Omake: Revlid (100xp -> Cirucci, 50xp to Cirucci)
Canon Omake: Andres (100xp -> Style)
Omake: Zilla (50xp -> Descorrer)
Stick Figures: Phigment (50xp -> Descorrer)
Write-in: Revlid (50xp -> Marana)
Fanart: Coshiua (50xp -> Cirucci)
Fanart: Coshiua (100xp -> Cirucci)
Omake: Daecl (50xp -> Hierro)
Fanart: Coshiua (50xp -> Cirucci)
Omake: Daecl (50xp -> Hierro)
Omake: Andres110 (50xp -> Style)
Omake: Kaiya (50xp, 25xp to Cirucci)
Omake: Zilla (50xp -> Descorrer)
Fanart: Coshiua (100xp -> Cirucci, 50xp to Cirucci)
Omake: Kaiya (50xp -> Cirucci)
Fanart: Coshiua (50xp -> Cirucci)
Canon Omake: Sigurd (50xp -> Hierro, 25xp to Cirucci)
Canon Omake: Viva01 (50xp -> Cero)
Omake: Revlid (50xp -> Cero)
Canon Omake: Revlid (100xp -> Cero, 50xp to Cirucci)
Fanart: Coshiua (50xp -> Cirucci)
Canon Omake: EarthScorpion (100xp -> Cirucci, 50xp to Cirucci)
Omake: Kaiya (50xp -> Hierro)
Fanart: Andres110 (100xp -> Style)
Fanart: Andres110 (50xp -> Style)
End of Arc 4: 1000xp (550 -> HSR, 450 -> Resurreccion, 500xp to Cirucci)
Canon Omake: NonSequtur (50xp -> HSR)
Omake: Phigment (50xp -> Style)
Omake: Daecl (50xp)
Canon Omake: NonSequtur (100xp -> HSR)
Omake: Phigment (50xp -> Style)
Fanart: Yama0 (50xp -> Sonido)
Omake: NonSequtur (50xp -> HSR)
Omake: Daecl (50xp -> HSR)
Canon Omake: Zhade (100xp -> Style)
Fanart: lifeofgesture (50xp -> Style)
Fanart: lifeofgesture (50xp -> Style)
Omake: Phigment (50xp -> HSR)
Omake: Zilla (50xp -> Combat Arts)
Fanart: lifeofgesture (100xp -> Style)
Omake: Revlid (100xp -> HSR)
Omake: Phigment (50xp -> Combat Arts)
Canon Omake: Revlid (100xp -> 50xp to HSR, 50 to Marana)
Omake: Phigment (50xp -> Combat Arts, 25xp to Cirucci)
Fanart: Coshiua (100xp -> 50 to Combat Arts, 50 to Cirucci, additional 50xp to Cirucci)
Comissioned Fanart: Tempera, by TheOneMoiderah (200xp -> Style, 100xp to Cirucci)
Omake: Phigment (50xp -> Combat Arts)
End of Arc 5: 1400xp (1250 -> Cero, 150 -> Combat Arts, 1400xp to Cirucci)
Fanart: Coshiua (50xp-> Reiatsu Perception, 25xp to Cirucci)
Omake: Storyteller (50xp -> Reiatsu Perception)
Omake: Chronic (50xp -> Reiatsu Perception)
Fanart: Coshiua (50xp-> Reiatsu Perception)
Canon Omake: Viva01 (100xp -> Sonido)
Fanart: Coshiua (100xp -> Reiatsu Perception, 50xp to Cirucci)
Omake: Phigment (50xp, 100xp bonus for completed work -> 150 to Style)
Omake: Storyteller (50xp -> Reiatsu Perception)
Omake: EarthScorpion (50xp -> Descorrer)
Omake: NSMS (50xp -> Style, 25xp to Cirucci)
Omake: NonSequtur (50xp -> Style)
Omake: Chronic (50xp -> Sonido)
Omake: Xellos (25xp -> Cirucci)
Fanart: Yama0 (25xp -> Sonido, 25xp to Cirucci)
Omake: Phigment (25xp -> Style, 25xp to Cirucci)
Fanart: Yama0 (25xp-> Sonido)
Fanart: Yama0(25xp-> Sonido)
Omake: Olive (25xp -> Resurreccion)
Omake: undead frog (25xp-> Medicine)
Omake: Phigment (25xp -> Style, 25xp to Cirucci)
Fanart: Yama0 (25xp-> Sonido)
Fanart: Coshiua (25xp -> Marana, 25xp to Cirucci)
Omake: PandemoniousIvy (25xp -> Sonido)
Omake: PandemoniousIvy (25xp -> Sonido)
Fanart: Yama0 (50xp-> Sonido)
Fanart: Coshiua (25xp -> Marana)
Fanart: Coshiua (25xp -> Marana)
Omake: Sinsystems (25xp -> Medicine)
Fanart: Coshiua (25xp -> Marana)
Omake: Chronic (25xp -> Hierro)
Fanart: Coshiua (25xp -> Marana)
Omake: deadcrystal (25xp -> Reiatsu Control)
Fanart: Coshiua (25xp -> Marana)
Fanart: Coshiua (25xp -> Marana)
Omake: deadcrystal (25xp -> Reiatsu Control)
Fanart: Coshiua (25xp -> Marana, 25xp to Cirucci)
Omake: Phigment (25xp -> Marana)
Fanart: Coshiua (50xp -> Marana)
Fanart: Coshiua (50xp -> Marana)
Omake: Yama0 (25xp-> Sonido)
Canon Omake: Zhade (100xp -> Medicine)
Fanart: Coshiua (100xp -> Medicine, 50xp -> Marana)
Canon Omake: Revlid (100xp -> Cirucci)
End of Arc 6 (525xp -> Marana, 475xp -> Reiatsu Perception, 350xp to Cirucci)
Omake: Phigment (25xp -> Medicine)
Omake: Phigment (25xp -> Medicine)
Omake: Phigment (25xp -> Style)
Omake: Gargulec (50xp -> Marana)
Various Artwork: Coshiua (100xp -> Perception, 25xp to Cirucci)
Omake: Revlid (50xp -> Perception)
Omake: deadcrystal (25xp -> Reiatsu Control )
Omake: Execute/Dumbo (25xp -> Style)
Omake: Phigment (50xp -> Style, 25xp to Cirucci)
Various Artwork: Coshiua (75xp -> Perception, 25xp to Cirucci)
Artwork: Grigori (25xp -> Sonido, 25xp to Cirucci)
Fanart: Krekart, by Krekian (100xp -> Sonido)
Fanart: Yama0 (25xp -> Sonido)
Write-in + Helpfulness: Revlid (50xp -> Marana)
End of Arc 7 (500xp -> Marana, 600xp -> Sonido, 200xp -> Medicine, 650xp to Cirucci)
Fanart: Grigori (50xp -> Style)
Canon Omake: Phigment (100xp -> Style, 50xp to Cirucci)
Omake: NMS (25xp -> Reiatsu Control)
Krekian (100xp -> Medicine)
Omake: Chronic (50xp -> Hierro)
Canon Omake: Floom (50xp -> Reiatsu Control)
Various Artworks: Coshiua (100xp -> Medicine, 50xp -> Cirucci, 75xp to Cirucci)
Canon Omake: Cetashwayo (100xp -> Marana)
Omake: Axel Fones (75xp -> Reiatsu Control, 50xp to Cirucci)
Omake: SoothingCoffee (50xp -> Marana, 25xp to Cirucci)
Canon Omake: Tricia (100xp -> Reiatsu Control)
Various Artworks: Krekian (250xp -> 100 to Marana, 75 to Style (Andres110 reques), 75xp to Cirucci)
Various Artworks: Coshiua (50xp -> Reiatsu Perception)
Omake: Phigment (50xp -> Style)
End of Arc 8 (925xp -> Reiatsu Control, 575xp -> Marana, 750xp to Cirucci)
Editing Help: Revlid (100xp -> Cirucci)
Canon Omake: Gargulec (100xp -> Marana)
Canon Omake: EarthScorpion (100xp -> Marana, 50xp to Cirucci)
Omake: SoothingCoffee (25xp -> Marana)
Omake: Phigment (25xp -> Style)
Various Artworks: Coshiua (100xp -> Reiatsu Perception, 25xp to Cirucci)
Omake: NSMS (25xp -> Reiatsu Perception)
Fanart: Manic Dogma (50xp -> Marana, 25xp to Cirucci)
Fanart: CausalityCircle (100xp -> HSR)
Omake: InterstellarHobo (25xp -> Marana)
Fanart: PurposefulZephyr (25xp -> Reiatsu Perception)
Omakes: Andres110 (50xp -> Style)
Various Artworks: Coshiua (125xp -> Cirucci, 50xp to Cirucci)
Omakes: Phigment (100 -> Cirucci, 25xp -> Style, 50xp to Cirucci)
Canon Omake: Cetashwayo (100xp -> Style)
Omake: Cetashwayo (25xp -> Style)
Canon Omake: Gargulec (100xp -> Style)
Fanart: CausalityCircle (25xp -> HSR)
Omake: Zilla (25xp -> Style)
Fanart: Arcus (25xp -> Resurreccion)
Fanart: Revlid (25xp -> Cirucci)
Canon Omake: deadcrystal (50xp -> HSR)
Omake: deadcrystal (25xp -> HSR)
End of Arc 9: 500xp -> Cirucci, 400xp -> Descorrer, 250xp to Cirucci
Various Artworks: Coshiua (100xp -> Marana, 50xp to Cirucci)
Terrible: PurposefulZephyr (25xp -> Style)
Valuable Help: ManusDomine (100xp -> Style)
End of Arc 10: 400xp -> Reiatsu Perception, 200xp -> Descorrer, 1200xp to Cirucci
Various Artworks: Krekian (250 -> Style)
Omake: MonkeyTypeWriter (25xp -> Resurreccion)
Omake: Phigment (50xp -> Cirucci, 25xp to Cirucci)
Various Omakes: Gargulec (250xp -> Luppi, 125xp to Cirucci)
Omake: EarthScorpion (50xp -> Descorrer)
Fanart: NonSequtur (25xp ->)
Troping: Coshiua (50xp -> Marana)
Various Artworks: Coshiua (50xp -> Marana, 100xp -> Cirucci, 50xp to Cirucci)
Commissioned Omake: Andres (100xp -> Marana)
More Troping: Andres110 (50xp -> Marana)
Collecting Help: Andres110 (100xp -> Marana)
Omake: Kaiya (50xp -> Cirucci, 25xp to Cirucci)
Fanart: Mizuki00 (25xp -> Marana)
Omake: Phigment (50xp -> Descorrer, 25xp to Cirucci)
Omake: Phigment (50xp -> Descorrer, 25xp to Luppi)
End of Arc 11: 600xp -> Medicine, 300xp to Cirucci, 300xp to Luppi
Various Fanarts: Coshiua (50xp -> Medicine)
Various Fanarts: Krekian (50xp -> )
Fanart: Mizuki00 (25xp -> Marana, 25xp to Cirucci)
Omake: EarthScorpion (25xp -> Medicine)
Canon Omake: EarthScorpion (50xp -> Medicine)
Omake: Phigment (25xp -> Medicine, 25xp to Cirucci)
Canon Omake: TenfoldShield (50xp -> Luppi)
Omake: Phigment (25xp -> Medicine, 25xp to Cirucci)
QM Omake: Andres110 (25xp -> Medicine, 75xp -> Marana)
Various Fanarts: Coshiua (50xp -> Marana, 25xp -> Cirucci, 50xp to Cirucci)
Canon Omake: EarthScorpion (100xp -> Descorrer)
Various Omakes: Phigment (150xp -> Descorrer, 75xp to Cirucci)
Fanart: CornyBones (50xp -> )
End of Arc 12: 600xp -> Bala, 200xp -> Bala, 400xp to Cirucci, 400xp to Luppi
Various Omakes: Phigment (100xp -> Descorrer, 75xp to Cirucci)
Making Me Laugh: Lazurman (25xp -> La Marana)
Fanart: Camellia (50xp -> Resurreccion)
Omake Collection: toxinvictory (25xp -> Luppi)
Various Omakes, one Canon: RandomNPC (125xp -> La Marana, 50xp -> Resurreccion, 75xp -> Descorrer, 25xp to Cirucci)
Various Omakes: Random_NPC (50xp -> Marana)
Various Fanarts: Coshiua (25xp -> Descorrer, 25xp -> Resurreccion, 25xp to Cirucci)
Omake: EarthScorpion (25xp -> Luppi)
Omake: Gargulec (50xp -> Bala, 25xp to Cirucci)
Omake Series Completion: Gargulec (100xp -> Bala, 50xp to Cirucci)
Canon Omake: Chronic (50xp -> Hierro, 25xp to Cirucci)
Various Omakes: Redshirt Army (100xp -> Reiatsu Control)
Omake: Sinsystems (25xp -> Resurreccion)
Omake: Zilla (25xp -> Descorrer, 25xp to Cirucci)
Omake: Stormwhite (25xp -> Luppi)
Omake: Zaealix (25xp -> Luppi)
Omake: NSMS (25xp -> La Marana)
Omake: NMS (25xp -> Cirucci, 25xp to Cirucci)
Omake: deadcrystal (25xp -> HSR)
End of Arc 13: 625xp -> Descorrer, 475 -> Resurreccion, 750xp to Cirucci, 750xp to Luppi
Omakes: EarthScorpion (50xp -> Luppi, 50xp to Luppi)
Omake: Yaga (25xp -> La Marana)
Various Omakes, one Canon: RandomNPC (50xp -> HSR, 25xp -> La Marana, 25xp -> Resurreccion, 25xp to Luppi)
Canon Omake: Gargulec (50xp -> La Marana)
Omake: Phigment (25xp -> La Marana)
Fanart: CausalityCircle (25xp -> HSR, 25xp to Luppi, 25xp to Cirucci)
Fanart: Camellia (25xp -> Resurreccion)
Omake: Yaga (25xp -> Luppi, 25xp to Luppi)
Canon Omake: tzar1990 (25xp ->Luppi, 25xp to Luppi)
Various Omakes: Redshirt Army (50xp ->Reiatsu Control)
Omake, Canon Omake: RandomNPC (50xp ->Bala, 25xp to Luppi)
Various Fanarts: Coshiua (25xp ->Bala, 25xp -> Luppi, 25xp to Luppi)
Fanart: Yama0 (25xp -> )
Fanart: CausalityCircle (25xp -> Resurreccion, 25xp to Luppi)
Omake: Phigment 25xp -> Cirucci, 25xp to Cirucci)
Omake: Chocolote12 (25xp -> Brujeria)
Fanart: Camellia (50xp ->Resurreccion, 25xp to Luppi, 25xp to Cirucci)
Omake: Chronic (25xp -> Hierro)
Fanarts: trob030490 (75xp -> Resurreccion, 25xp to Cirucci)
Omake: Lexica (25xp ->Cirucci)
Omake: EarthScorpion (25xp -> Luppi, 25xp to Luppi)
Fanwork Collection: The Phoenixian (25xp -> Cirucci, 25xp -> Luppi)
Fanwork Collection: toxinvictory (25xp -> Luppi)
Fanwork Collection: Alectai (25xp -> Marana)
Omake: SoothingCoffee (25xp -> )
Omake: Tricia (25xp -> )
Omake: Chronic (25xp -> Hierro)
Fanart: trob030490 (25xp -> Resurreccion)
Omake: Phigment (25xp -> HSR)
Fanart: Solacen (50xp -> )
Canon Omake: Chronic (50xp -> Hierro)
Various Fanarts: Argidoll (75xp -> Brujeria, 25xp to Cirucci)
Various Fanarts: Coshiua (50xp -> Marana)
Canon Omake: Yaga (25xp -> Marana)
Omake: random_npc (25xp -> Marana, 25xp to Cirucci)
Fanart: Xepheria (25xp -> Marana, 25xp to Cirucci)
Canon Omake: Gargulec (50xp -> Marana)
Fanart: Camellia (50xp -> HSR)
Omakes: Phigment (50xp -> HSR)
Canon Omake: TenfoldShields (50xp -> Luppi, 25xp to Luppi)
Various Omakes: RandomNPC (50xp -> Resurreccion)
Canon Omake: Yaga (50xp -> Bala)
Canon Omake: EarthScorpion (50xp -> Resurreccion)
Canon Omake: Gargulec (50xp -> Marana)
Various Fanarts: Coshiua (50xp -> Resurreccion)
Various Fanarts: Andres110 (75xp -> Marana, 125xp -> Resurreccion, 50xp to Cirucci)
Omake, Canon Omake: EarthScorpion (75xp -> Luppi, 25xp to Cirucci)
Canon Omale: Tenfoldshields (50xp -> Luppi)
Fanart: Brainwasher (100xp -> Bala)
Omake: RandomNPC (25xp -> Bala, 25xp to Luppi)
Omake, Canon Omake: Phigment (75xp -> HSR)
Omake: Tricia (50xp -> )
Fanart: rogthnor (25xp -> Cirucci)
Various Omakes: RandomNPC (75xp -> Bala)
Various Fanarts: Andres110 (150x -> Cirucci)
Omake: TehChron (25xp -> HSR)
Omake: Redshirt Army (25xp -> Bala)
Fanart: Coshiua (25xp -> Bala)
End of Arc 14, End of Arc 15: 2200xp (500 -> Brujeria, 425 -> Resurreccion), 1100 to Luppi and Cirucci
Fanwork Collection: Mellithae (25xp ->
Fanwork Collection + Fanart: Xepheria (75xp -> HSR)
Omake, Canon Omake: Tricia (75xp -> Bala)
Omakes: Redshirt Army (50xp -> Reiatsu Control)
Various Fanarts: Coshiua (75xp -> Brujeria)
Omake: Zaealix (25xp -> )
Omake: RandomNPC (25xp -> HSR)
Omake: tzar1990 (25xp -> Sonido)
Omake: yaga (25xp -> Luppi)
Omakes, Canon Omake: Phigment (100xp -> HSR)
Omakes: deadcrystal (50xp -> Brujeria)
Omake: 13th Fleet (25xp -> Cirucci)
Fanart: trob030490 (75xp -> Cirucci)
Fanwork Collection: toxinvictory (25xp -> Luppi)
Fanart: Andres110 (100xp -> Cirucci, 25xp to Cirucci)
Omake: Zilla (25xp -> HSR)
Fanart: EarthScorpion (25xp -> Cirucci)
Fanart: CausalityCircle (50xp -> HSR, 25xp to Cirucci)
Fanart: Coshiua (50xp -> Cirucci)
Fanart: Solacen (150xp -> Cirucci)
End of Arc 16: 700xp (300 -> Brujeria, 400 -> Brujeria, 350xp to Cirucci, 350xp to Luppi)
Omake: Redshirt Army (25xp -> Reiatsu Control)
Omake: Akatsunami (25xp -> Reiatsu Control)
Omakes: Phigment (50xp -> HSR)
Omakes: Tnoz (50xp -> Cirucci)
Fanart: Argidoll (50xp -> Reiatsu Control)
Fanart: Xepheria (50xp -> Reiatsu Control)
Canon Omake: EarthScorpion (50xp -> Cirucci)
Omake: tzar1990 (25xp -> Cirucci)
Fanart: Coshiua (75xp -> Cirucci)
Fanwork Collection: unObservant (25xp -> Cirucci)
Fanwork Collection: toxinvictory (25xp -> Luppi)
Commissioned Fanart: Andres110 (200xp -> Cirucci)
Omakes: RandomNPC (25xp -> Cirucci)
Omakes: Tirfarthuan (50xp -> Cirucci, 25xp to Cirucci)
Omake: ω₁ (25xp -> Cirucci)
Fanart: CausalityCircle (25xp -> HSR)
Fanart: Argidoll (50xp -> Brujeria)
Some Misplaced XP From Somewhere (25xp -> Brujeria)
Fanwork Collection: unObservant (25xp -> HSR)
Omake: EarthScorpion (50xp -> Cirucci)
Services Rendered: EarthScorpion (150xp -> Cirucci)
Fanart: Argidoll (50xp -> HSR)
PandemoniousIvy (25xp -> Cirucci)
Various Omakes: Phigment (125xp -> HSR)
Lifetime Award: Phigment (125xp -> HSR)
Fanart: pucflek (50xp -> Bala)
Various Fanworks: Tnoz (100xp -> HSR)
Various Omakes: Tirfarthuan (50xp -> Cirucci)
Various Fanarts: Coshiua (50xp -> HSR)
Prodigious Production: Coshiua (25xp -> HSR, 75xp -> Cirucci)
Omake + Completion Bonus: random_npc (100xp -> HSR)
Fanart: Xepheria (100xp -> Cero, 50xp to Cirucci)
Omake: RandomNPC (25xp -> HSR, 25xp to Cirucci)

Omicron · Apr 7, 2017

Character Files

Artwork by Camellia

The "Ally" tag does not reflect the simple fact of a character being your ally. It is a tag for a character which will benefit from omake xp and may be reinforced by your own xp if you so wish. Being your friend is not necessary or sufficient for this. In Cirucci's case, she is tagged Ally because you currently depend on her for survival and she is actively training you, and with you, in a ploy which she hopes will make her more powerful as well.

Close Friends & Allies

Ally: Cirucci Thunderwitch, the Pillar Princess
Status: Espada #5 (Formerly Espada #10, Formerly Privaron Espada #105)

Cirucci was once a member of the Espada, but following Aizen's acquisition of the Hyogokou she became irrelevant in the face of new-generation Arrancars. Demoted from her status, she was exiled to the outskirts of Las Noches, where she stands guard against non-existent intruders in her Pillar Palace. Thinking of herself as disowned nobility, there is nothing Cirucci wishes more than to take back her former status as one of the Espadas.

Nemo's first real interaction with Cirucci was being sent on a frivolous mission to obtain a new uniform for her. Very attached to etiquette and presentation, proper dress and manners are all-important to her, and she "rewarded" Nemo with lessons of etiquette. When Findorr attacked Nemo, she found refuge in Cirucci's fortress, and Cirucci chased Findorr away. For this, Nemo owed her a debt.

That debt was repaid and more when Nemo's aid allowed Cirucci to grow beyond her limits, challenge Yammy, and win. Following this victory, she was reintroduced into the Espada, and Nemo officially became her Fraccion. The two of them fell in love, and are in an ongoing relationship. Later, Cirucci would rescue Nemo from a captivity connected to Ruddborne's death, defeating Nnoitra Gilger in doing so and acceeding to the rank of Fifth Espada.

Cirucci took part in the First and Third Karakura Raids, testing Ichigo's strength, then later helping in his abduction. Since then, however, she has come to realize that Aizen's rule was antitethical to the development of Arrancar society and culture, and that he had to be cast down. She is now planning to rebel against him.

Cirucci gains most of her advantage in combat from her mobility and speed, her ability to navigate her environment, and the unorthodox shape and fighting style associated with her zanpakutou, a yo-yo-whip contraption that has Hierro-cutting properties. Her Resurreccion is one of the most powerful in existence, but at this time can only be sustained for less than a minute.

Skills:
Combat Arts: Champion (0/3200)
Sonido: Master (0/2400)
Hierro: Veteran (0/1600)
Cero: Veteran (0/1600)
Bala: Veteran (0/1600)
Reiatsu Control: Master (2400/2400)
Reiatsu Perception: Veteran (0/1600)
Resurreccion: Legendary (-/-)

Advanced Skills
Dominio: Third Rain (0/2000)

Leftover: 1825xp

Ally: Luppi Antenor
Status: Numero #76

One of the most recently-created Arrancars in Las Noches, Luppi is sneaky, ambitious and unnerving. His power is enough to warrant a spot among the Espada, but he has been denied this position following Yammy's demise.

Luppi entered a fragile alliance with Cirucci vowing to help her remove another of the current Espada so she could ascend beyond her rank and he could take her seat.

Luppi expects betrayal from everyone, and delights in pushing people to the brink until they fulfill his expectations by trying to backstab him in expectation of an imagined treachery. He has found Cirucci and Nemo to be frustrating challenges to his worldview, and after helping Cirucci rescue her Fraccion, has decided to tag along with them and study them, hopefully understanding them, and perhaps himself.

Luppi is now Cirucci's Fraccion, and has been developing a romantic relationship with Grimmow as he seeks to undertand the nature of love. Though infuriating to Nemo, he has been one of her most reliable allies. They are definitely, absolutely, totally not friends.

Luppi is an excellent hand-to-hand fighter, but is lacking in sword skills and ranged potential. His control of his reiatsu is outstanding, and he can generate an aura of distrust and doubt which helps him break apart groups of enemies. His Resurreccion allows him to grow powerful, regenerating tentacles, further emphasizing his role as someone designed to fight squads of weaker opponents. He is proficient in reading people and emulating their behavior or unique skills.

Skills:
Combat Arts: Master (0/2400)
Sonido: Master (0/2400)
Hierro: Master (0/2400)
Cero: Veteran (0/1600)
Bala: Veteran (1600/1600)
Reiatsu Control: Champion (0/3200)
Reiatsu Perception: Master (0/2400)
Resurreccion: Master (0/2400)

Mundane Skills:
Mimic: Master (0/1200)

Leftover: 1475xp

Known Skills: Luppi has at least a Master rank in Reiatsu Control, allowing him to conceal his presence from most of Las Noches's residents. His Combat Arts and Reiatsu Perception are at least of Veteran rank, and though he has not shown high feats of burst speed his ability to effortlessly keep up with Nemo's running indicate a likely Master rank in Sonido. Specialized traits for his abilities include the ability to crawl on any surface at high speed and an utterly silent Sonido.

Luppi's unique Mundane Skill: Mimic makes him proficient in reading people and emulating their behavior. He picked up Nemo's gesture-speech in only a few interactions, and was able to pass as a Calavera with only minor observation and a good disguise.

Esmeralda
Status: Honorary Fullbringer (Formerly: Las Noches's medic, Numero #57)

A base Hollow turned Arrancar, Esmeralda was one of Aizen's early experiments in "customizing" the transformation process. He removed her ability to sense reiatsu and forged a "reiatsu caparace" around her to keep her from feeling the negative effects of spiritual pressure. Being able to operate smoothly around Espadas, Esmeralda became a medic. However, this work leaves her a lot of free time, and higher-ranked Arrancars have taken to using her as a go-to woman for finding Numeros to send on their many errands. This ends up occupying most of her day.

Esmeralda has an ambiguous relationship with Nemo, acting friendly and seeming to genuinely like her, but constantly intruding in her home and giving her more work. She first believed Nemo to be a base Hollow like herself, and felt betrayed to learn that Nemo was actually a more powerful Adjucha. Nemo feels like she wants to be her friend, but fears personal attachment and the possibility of loss.

Nemo shared the same fears. Although Esmeralda eventually reached out to her for friendship, Nemo didn't believe she would be safe as long as she stayed in Las Noches, and convinced her to escape into the living world. Esmeralda is now an Arrancar in hiding, and is building ties with the Fullbringers.

Esmeralda has grown into her new life, and is at peace with her existence as part of the Fullbringer party. In no small part thanks to her influence, the group has taken to hunting Hollows and keeping their town safer. Esmeralda has adopted Yammy's dog, who loves her very much and has grown into a very big, very good boy.

Known Skills: Esmeralda is effectively incapable of sensing spiritual energy, and is immune to all but the most potent spiritual pressures. She is an extremely competent medic.

Spider-friend
Status: Hollow

A base Hollow living in the desert beyond Las Noches, the many-legged spider (it probably has a name; you never asked) spends most of his time running around and eating smaller Hollows, usually autotrophs. With little to do in his life, he enjoys companionship and discussion, although he is sometimes teasing.

Nemo first encountered him getting back to Las Noches from a mission, and carried her a while. He's since then transported her a few times, seemingly enjoying her presence. When asked how she could find him again if she needed him, he simply said she should wish for him to be there. Having consumed Nemo's flesh and Gillian meat, the Spider has been growing bigger and stronger, and expanded his services to allow isolated Arrancar settlements to trade with each other, helping connecting the desert one dot at a time.

Known Skills: Runs fast. Possibly the chillest Hollow in existence.

Alphonse Lemezzier
Status: Numero #??

Although a mere Numero on paper, Alphonse holds an important position in Las Noches, for he is its tailor. All Arrancar uniforms are of his design and make, following suggestions by his superiors. Proud of his craft, Alphonse does not hesitate to go through dozens of iterations for a given model, and finds personal gratification in simply delivering good work. His care in his duties contrasts with his lack of self-care: his hair is unkept and his uniform sewn together from spare bits.

Nemo first encountered Alphonse on Cirucci's orders, to fetch her a better uniform. He convinced Nemo to illegally go into the living world for "research," and rewarded her by cutting her Gillian cloth into a conceiling scarf. Following this, Nemo's interest in the art of tailoring was sparked, and she progressively became his apprentice.

Although Alphonse has been a mentor figure and a good friend to Nemo, not only helping her create more magical garments but helping her figure out long-buried personal issues, he wants no part in the coming conflict, and his driving goal was always to master La Marana. Having accomplished this goal with Nemo's help, he has left Las Noches for good to rejoin with his own teacher in a distant forest. On this quest, he carries two wedding rings.

Known Skills: Alphonse's Resurreccion is at least of Veteran rank, and his reiatsu powerful enough that Nemo once considered him far above her class. That said, his abilities do not seem to focus on combat.

"Jackelton"
Status: Leader of the New Model Exequias (Formerly: Exequias #??)

A lesser Arrancar whose head is entirely covered in a mask like a jackal skull, this nameless henchman is a member of Las Noches's enforcement task, but is usually found assigned to boring, solidary duties such as standing guard before the apartments of his better. It seems like they're trying to have him out of the way for some reason. He doesn't speak much... Or at all. Nemo and him communicate fine, though.

Jackelton began to develop a sense of individuality after Nemo first talked to him. This caused him to attend Zommari Leroux's sermons, and from there to further diverge from his Calavera brothers. This in turn caused deep worry to its master Ruddborne, leading to a series of dramatic incidents.

Following the death of Ruddborne and Nemo's crafting of a uniform awakening and honing Jackelton's potential, he has become the leader of the new Exequias, unofficially under the command of Gantenbainne Mosqueda. He has the ability to create dog-skulled Calaveras.

Assorted Arrancars

Barragan Luisenbarn
Status: Espada #2 (Formerly: One True King of Hueco Mundo)

The former King of Hueco Mundo, Barragan follows Aizen only reluctantly. An arrogant ruler with a storied past and an infamous and terrifying power, he is prone to musings on the nature of power, time and kingship. Barragan is usually not as actively sadistic or malicious as some of its kind; rather, he is dismissive and disinterested in "ants" below him. Things and people which serve their purpose are good, although most of them are replaceable. Things and people which have unique value and gifts are precious, but ultimately all things die and are replaced.

Barragan sent Nemo into the desert to hunt down those who stole his old crown. Pleased by its return, he nonetheless explained that the crown was an ultimately empty symbol which represented the eternal and unaging nature of kingship, without holding value of its own. Aging the crown thousands of years, he then ordered Nemo to bury it in the sands where it would be forgotten.

Barragan has since been musing more deeply on the nature of kingship and his own defeat at the hands of Aizen. He has recruited Cirucci's help in order to learn how to properly fight rather than rely purely on his own abilities; while this has made him gro stronger, it has also led him to depressive bouts as he realized the irrelevance he had fallen into and been blind to.

Known Skills: Barragan possesses Advanced Skill: Senescencia, the power to bend time around him. Casual applications of this power allow him to slow time around him to effectively make himself faster, and to shatter bones and objects with a touch. His Resurreccion, the subject of many tales of woe in Hueco Mundo, is likely of Legendary rank.

Findorr Callius
Status: Chichimaru (Formerly: Fraccion of Barragan)

Findorr is a prideful fighter and an utmost loyal servant to Barragan, Espada #2, whom he still considers the one true king of Hueco Mundo. He believes that "nobility" and through it power is in one's blood, and despises "upstarts" and those who seek to rise above their station. He considers it an infamy to have to use his full power against those beneath him, and as such deliberately resticts himself in battle.

Nemo encountered him when taking orders from Barragan. Findorr always assumed she would fail and die in her mission, and he took her success as a personal slight, then her survival from the King's Senescencia as a second outrage. Believing her to have stolen a piece of Barragan's crown, he holds a grudge against her, but must hide the fact that such a lowly Arrancar actually put him at a disadvantage in their first fight.

When rumors of their battle started to spread, Findor's wounded honor compelled him to challenge Nemo in single combat. They fought in the ruins of the Ten Masked Kings, and Nemo triumphed. Unable to bring herself to deal the killing blow, she allowed his fellow Royal Fraccion Ggio to take him into the sands, where he would live on as an outcast.

In the sands, Findor was found, and rescued from despair, by a strange family of wandering Arrancars led by a green-haired child.

Known Skills: Combat Arts, Sonido, Hierro, Bala are all Skilled or above. Reiatsu Control and Reiatsu Perception are Veteran or above. With no outstanding fighting skill, Findorr's true strength lies in attrition fighting. His Advanced Skill: Affinar allows him to precisely control his spiritual energy, sacrificing higher power for better efficiency and making him all but indefatigable. His full power when his mask is entirely broken raised all his abilities to Veteran-level.

Grimmjow
Status: Espada #6

A powerful and arrogant Adjuchas, Grimmjow has attracted to him a loyal pack of followers since long before he was Arrancar. He has little patience for anyone else, and is both suspicious of those who would challenge his perception and difficult to fool.

Grimmjow found the idea of leaving Ichigo to grow into his potential and become a threat unconscionsable, and led the illegal Second Karakura Raid to kill him; instead, two of his own Fraccions died. Following these events and having had his eye on Cirucci's strange power growth, he attemped to grow in power, which incidenally led to him growing as a person. Somehow tolerates Luppi to the point of now dating him.

Yammy
Status: Experiment (Formerly: Espada #10)

The lowest-rank of his Espada, Yammy's status hiding a dangerous power, Yammy is a dangerous man. Boisterous, fight-hungry, arrogant and easily bored, he is feared by those who have to serve his whims. He prizes raw power and dislike those who must rely on "tricks" to survive. He is closely monitored by Ulquiorra, Espada #4, and seems to be under orders to kill those who witness his Resurreccion.

Cirucci sent Nemo to follow Yammy in a bid to take his seat in the Espada. Nemo took him into the Forest of Menos with the promise of a fight, and there beheld his terrible power, suffering wounds that would have been crippling without Esmeralda's help. Cirucci was taken aback to learn his true power, but still intends to take his place.

After a week of the most intense training she had ever undergone, Cirucci finally challenged Yammy while he was still recovering from his forest battle. Nemo watched as titans fought, and Cirucci won against all odds. But before she could finish him, Yammy's sole companion Ulquiorra appeared and took his body.

There is no salvation for Yammy, however. He is now held in the terrifying laboratories of Szayel Apollo-Grantz, where his broken body is to be reforged at the cost of everything he is.

Known Skills: Yammy is a close-combat, unarmed fighter; his rank in Combat Arts is Master or above. He is prone to using powerful Balas, but rarely uses Cero outside his Resurreccion. His Sonido is so poor he does not even bother using it, relying on his Hierro for Defense. His true threat lies in his Resurreccion (Rank unknown), which manifests as a giant beast of terrible power; its power is so great his Espada ranking changes in his Resurreccion, but it takes him a lot of time to recover his strength, and so his true power fluctuates heavily.

Lords of Las Noches

Aizen
Status: Lord of Las Noches (Formerly: Captain of the 5th Division)

The one called 'God' by the Arrancars of Las Noches. Aizen was once an unassuming Captain of Soul Society, keeping his true nature. Aizen has for over a century been on a Quest to understand the intrisic limits of spiritual beings and shatter these limits so as to make himself able to rise to the Throne of God and control the balance of reincarnation and the realms of existence. He betrayed Soul Society in a stunningly dramatic desplay, joining the secret army he had been building in Hueco Mundo. Since then, the Lord of Las Noches has been sitting on his throne, smiling, scheming, enacting his plans through proxies, and watching the Arrancars change and evolve.

Ichimaru Gin
Status: Renegade Shinigami (Formerly: Captain of the 3rd Division)

Though he and Tousen theoretically occupy identical positions, Gin is widely considered Aizen's true second-in-command. The man's perpetual smirk echoes his master's, his eyes always seem close, and he seems to treat the world as a great joke. He is friendly with Luppi.

Kaname Tousen
Status: Renegade Shinigami (Formerly: Captain of the 9th Division)

A quiet and reserved man, Tousen is blind, but makes up for it with incredibly keen spiritual senses. His one obsession in life is justice, and though he spent much of his existence pretending to be working to reform Soul Society from within, in truth he believed all along that the system needed to be torn down and burnt to ashes. This led to his betrayal alongside Aizen and Gin. Though the Arrancars are useful in his crusade, he has little love or respect for these former Hollows.

Following Ruddborne's death, Tousen took over the task of investigating his death, leading him to Nemo who confessed her crime. Though he at first aimed to punish her, his interactions with her have since led him to question his outlook on the Arrancars. He now sees them as having the potential to become just, and is questioning his own crusade against those who were his friends.

Heroes?

Kurosaki Ichigo
Status: Substitute Shinigami

Once a simple teenager who could see ghosts, events have forced Ichigo to develop increasing spiritual power to defend his town and his friends, first from Hollows, then from hostile Shinigami, then finally from Aizen's schemes. He saved the Shinigami Rukia from an unjust execution and defeated two Captains in single combat, but in doing so he unwittingly contributed to Aizen's seizing of the Hogyokou, a stone with the power to warp souls.

As part of a plan aiming to lure Shinigami into a trap, Aizen ordered the abduction of Ichigo from the living world in the Third Karakura Raid. Cirucci personally tended to this task. Since then, Ichigo has been sitting in Las Noches, forced by circumstances to grow closer to his Inner Hollow and to interact with the Arrancars.

Ururu
Status: Child

A girl living and working with Kisuke Urahara.

Arisawa Tatsuki
Status: Badass

Childhood friend to Ichigo and Orihime. Black belt in karate.

Inoue Orihime
Status: Ditz

Childhood friend to Ichigo. Developed the power to manifest fairies from a family hairpin, which she can use to engage in spiritual battles. Followed her friends to Soul Society to save Rukia.

Kon
Status: Punchline

An artificial soul slated for destructionn, Ichigo keeps him stuffed in a plush toy; Kon takes over Ichigo's body while he is off doing spirit stuff so that nobody notices he's gone.

The Fallen

Ashido Kano
Status: Deceased

The Masked Hunter of the Forest of Menos, Ashido was a shinigami who spent centuries trapped in Hueco Mundo, waging a one-man guerilla against Hollows. He was a man of cunning and an excellent user of traps, but his skills were ultimately no match for the sheer power of Yammy. He died amidst the phantoms of his fallen friends.

Ruddborne Chelute
Status: Deceased (Formerly: Leader of the Exequias)

The leader of the Exequias, Las Noches's inquisitorial police, Ruddborne was widely feared by all below his rank, and was a concern even for the Espada. He created, and commanded, a vast army of nameless skull-headed soldiers known as the Calaveras, and ruthlessly enforced the few laws of Aizen's army.

When Nemo and Luppi went to spy on Zommari Leroux, Ruddborne took notice of them and relentlessly pursued them throughout the corridors of Las Noches, using his army to surround them. In the end he confronted Nemo's released form, and though he had power enough to win, blindness and pride were his downfall.

Beauty-of-a-Falling-Leaf
Status: Deceased (Formerly: God-in-Becoming)

An entity born of what was once He Who Leers, the Undertaker of Civilization. Gaining sentience through a link to the abandoned Calaveras and the absorbtion of Arrancar minds, Nemo managed to prevent it from becoming an entity of fatalistic doom. It was reborn as a divinely powerful being obsessed with the beauty of doomed thing, and the worthiness of struggle against fatality. It brought night to Las Noches, and stood as a challenge to Aizen's rule. It did not survive that challenge. From its ashes, Las Noches saw its first plant life.

Mantis
Status: Deceased

A tragedy.

NonSequtur · Apr 8, 2017

The Spider Express

The Hollow World, like its inhabitants, has an endless hunger. It gnaws at those who wander its sands and sleep under its sky. In a desert where nothing ever changes, it's so easy to get lost.

At least the sand doesn't cling to your pants.

You clutch your compass tighter. As long as you have it, you can always make it back to Las Noches. To something in this nothing.

For now, you scout. It's a pointless duty, and one you were never commanded to do, but it's better than lazing about. Even if it's hardly less boring, it feels right.

You stop and look around, brown eyes wide behind your mask. The moon is only half-full. It's evening. There's hardly a breeze.

Was it nothing?

You draw Polilla. You could have sworn-

Sand tumbles down the dunes, and this time you're sure. Something's moving. Underground.

You take to the sky and stand there instead. You're not going to let yourself be food.

One of the dunes moves. A white horn bursts through the side, followed by one grey leg. Then another. And another.

That's... a lot of legs, you think, as the beast shakes off the sand that had covered it. Now that it isn't masquerading as a dune, you can see it fully. It looks like a horned spider. With, somehow, too many limbs, and a hollow hole punched horizontally through its abdomen.

It's weak, you decide. Just a regular hollow, not so hungry as to need more than the air and sand of Hueco Mundo.

You ready Polilla and prepare to dive.

"Hello!" it rumbles, and you pause.

Hello?

"I have slept long. What are you?"

You are Nemo Elcorbuzier, Arrancar #48 in service to Sosuke Aizen.

The beast hums contemplatively. It sounds like an earthquake.

"Never heard of him," it shouts up at you.

You don't sputter, but it's a close thing. Aizen's ruled Las Noches for... well you're not sure, really, but quite a while.

"A ruler? Now that's a rare thing," the spider replies. "Come down here, we can hardly have a conversation shouting at each other."

You descend cautiously.

"You are a small morsel, aren't you?" it asks. "Surely you can't be that fast with legs that short."

You're not sure if you want to be offended or wary of the implication. You're faster than it, you're sure.

"Pah, maybe in a sprint," it scoffs. "But over a journey I think my legs will hold up better. I can rest some while others walk, and you cannot, biped."

You're skeptical.

"A proof then. Let me carry you to this lord of yours, and see if the leaving was faster than the return."

And why should you trust it?

"We are both Hollow, you and I, and yet it is not our bellies that are empty," it answers. "Now will you let me aid you on your journey and see this Las Noches?"

...Fine.

You climb into the abdomen of the beast. Now that you're here, you can see what look like seats carved into the dark chitin of the hole. Little more that divots, filled with white sand, but they are reassuring and you settle down into one.

And it is well that you did, because the beast is not gentle as it moves. However, despite the bruising your backside has suffered, you begin to see the pillars of Las Noches pass by far sooner than you'd expected.

The spider stops before the great gates. They're unmanned, as usual. No threats exist to Las Noches in Hueco Mundo. You're alone.

You disembark from the beast. It should hide, under the dunes. Another arrancar might think it good prey. You should give it that much advice, as thanks.

"Thank you, small thing," it rumbles. "It is good to be of use once again."

[ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: ORIGINALITY, WHAT'S THAT?]
[Find a lonely arthropodal taxi service to help you out and also discuss the meaning of life.]

Omicron · Apr 8, 2017

I. Starting Off Easy

You are Nemo Elcorbuzier, Arrancar of Las Noches, servant of Lord Aizen, and you are reaching the end of a journey.

Your feet hit the silvery sands of the Hueco Mundo, and you feel yielding under you. A familiar sensation so absent in the sun-lit world. You turn and wave your hand as a goodbye, but already the great spider that carried you so far is scurrying away, somewhere away from the ever-present threat radiated by the walls of the fortress.

Las Noches stands before you, its walls so tall as to swallow the sky. It is a construct so vast it never registered to you as a building; rather it is a feature of the landscape, a mountain made by hand. Hands like yours.

You pass the great gates and flinch behind your mask. The sudden shift from endless night to endless day is jarring; you see blue skies above your heads, clouds even, and you know they are false but your body believes their lie. You are not fond of the day.

They say the dome of Las Noches has its very own sky because the sun is Lord Aizen's eye; that wherever fall its rays Aizen can see. It is always day in Las Noches because there is no respite from his gaze.

Or perhaps it's just Aaroniero messing with the underlings' minds.

The fortress is far too vast for convenience - far bigger than warrants the number of personnel in Aizen's army. It takes you hours to reach your destination, at which point you really wish you could have invited the spider Hollow into the walls. Eventually you arrive at a wide cylindrical building of grey-white stone, windows pierced at seemingly random intervals through its walls by some demented architect.

Enough with walking. You pause below the wall, assessing the height to the window you want to reach; it has a scarlet scarf blowing lightly in the wind, put there by you weeks ago as a reminder. You crouch, tensing your body, and kick the ground.

You don't fly - but you jump good. You hit the walls a dozen yards or so up, and immediately start running. Your cloak billows behind you, parting in two like great moth wings. You start losing your footing and falling back. You push yourself harder in response, a swift kick letting you cross another ten yards in one moment. To any onlooker you would appear to have simply teleported from one spot to the next.

You paddle a little on the last few yards, starting to lose your ground, but you reach the window in time. Your hand darts out and you grab the ledge, then pull yourself up. You land in the room a little less gracefully than you'd hoped, and give a quick and nervous look around to check that nobody saw it.

You're alone in the room, of course - this is Las Noches, density one Arrancar per square mile at best. Your improvised bedroom-apartment is all yours with no one to contest it, but by the same token there is no one else to help you put it together. You had to grab items where you found them… sometimes with a little sleight of hand. But you're happy enough with your little nest. The bed is made up of layers and layers of silk stolen from the nest of some kind of caterpillar-Hollow, and the furniture varies between pleasantly-shaped rocks found in the desert and the odd colored squares typical of Las Noches' architecture. Your curtains, you stole from the human world in one of your rare ventures out.

You take off your wing-cloak and hang it on a nail you hammered by hand into the wall. Then you sit on a rock that's more a suggestion of chair than anything, and brush the silver sand from your uniform.

In fact there is entirely too much of the damned stuff. Your feet whisper faintly with every motion. Sighing, you pull off your boots and shake them, letting the silvery grains fall out onto the ground until they're empty.

Aw, now there's sand on your floor. How will you ever get it out? You don't have a broom. You're not sure anyone has a broom in the entirety of Las Noches; it seems a bit too mundane for the grand designs of the Espada.

You hear a faint giggle, and your head snaps in the direction of the sound.

"Oops, I've been made," says a feminine voice, and the intruder steps out from behind a curtain. It's Esmeralda, a slender Arrancar with short, dark hair and a tired look, her mask covering half her face. How long was she here?

"Oh, I saw your brave attempt at climbing."

You let your head droop, crestfallen, and she giggles again.

"Don't worry. I certainly wouldn't have managed to even reach the window if I'd tried that, so you're already doing better than I am. You'll get the knack of it in time, I'm sure."

You sigh again. You appreciate her reassurance, but you've always been terrible at the raw physical aspect of being an Arrancar. Your Sonido in human form is just shameful.

But really, that's besides the point. She's just trying to distract you from the obvious question, that being what she was doing in your room when you weren't there! You give her a suspicious look, frowning.

"Oh, don't be silly. You know how long it takes to get there from the gates. Someone spotted you and told me, and I knew you'd come here, so I came to wait for you."

Well, it's not like you don't appreciate the company after all these days in the desert. The loneliness is rather consuming. You give her a fond smile, stand up from your rock and take off the scabbard at your waist, laying it on a table… Is that a table? You don't remember if you decided it would be a table, a nightstand or a chair.

Look, it's a featureless white square frame. It could be anything. You have to use your imagination.

"I wouldn't get settled back in so soon, actually," Esmeralda says with a contrite look. "I didn't come here just to say hello - I actually have orders."

Oh, goodie. You can't even catch some rest, it seems.

"Look, you know how it is. Ever since Lord Aizen came back it's been hectic. Well, he hasn't been, obviously, he's just always so… stoic and calm, like he isn't really doing anything. But around him everything is in a rush. I think the Espada are running out of Arrancars that are, uh…"

Disposable. You'd bet they still have their own Fraccion longing about not doing anything much, but they "can't spare them." So the work gets foisted on the unbound like you.

"Don't be like that. We all do what we can for Lord Aizen and the Hollows as a whole."

You shrug noncommittally. Your thoughts on the matter are complicated.

"Be that as it may, we have several orders from various Espadas, and they're all very insistent that I grab the first Arrancar to step through the gates and throw their task at them as a priority over the rest."

And here you thought she liked you.

"Don't look so glum, it also was nice to chat! Anyway, Granz wants to talk to someone about catching a deserter who ran off into the desert with, I quote, 'valuable scientific data.' Aaroniero wants someone to… go hunt a Hollow? I can't see why we'd do that anymore, but whatever. Oh, and…" She swallows nervously. "...King Barragan needs a scout to check on some rumors he's heard? And they all assure me that this is very important business, but apparently not important enough to send one of their Fraccions. Well, that's not fair, Aaroniero has no Fraccion." She leans conspiratorially towards you. "I think he ate the last ones they gave him."

You breath sharply, something like a laugh that died on takeoff. Esmeralda shakes her head.

"Honestly, I think they're just bored and like seeing us scurry around at their beck and call. Anyway, seeing as you can't be in three places at once, you should go see one of them and when the others complain I'll say that the other had already snatched you before I could tell you about their so-much-more-important business."

Sounds like a plan to you. You'll go meet...

[ ]Szayelaporro Granz, the mad scientist, who wants you to find a deserter with stolen scientific data.
[ ]Aaroniero Arruruerie, the cannibal Gillian, who wants you to hunt down a Hollow of particular interest to him.
[ ]Barragan Luisenbarn, the deposed king, who wants you to investigate rumors concerning a lost item.

Adhoc vote count started by Omicron on Apr 9, 2017 at 12:38 PM, finished with 351 posts and 61 votes.

36 people have voted
[X]Barragan Luisenbarn, the deposed king, who wants you to investigate rumors concerning a lost item.
- Thriceboiled
- Blood of Gaea
- Guilop
- Walker Of Chaos
- Floom
- Nix's Warden
- Bilbo Baggins
- StarkDemise
- Qoel
- Sepulchare
- Camellia
- Khona Moshr
- Gamefreak1ed
- Olive
- drake_azathoth
- Racoras
- Avalon Du Lac
- Varano
- Amphidsf
- Crilltic
- Marked_One
- Dragontrapper
- formalAI
- IncognitoPotato
- GhostKing 666
- darkoda
- Akatsunami
- pucflek
- Nihilo
- SoothingCoffee
- Andres
- Athas
- canneecobra
- exerty
- King Prussia
- BrotherB
19 people have voted
[x]Aaroniero Arruruerie, the cannibal Gillian, who wants you to hunt down a Hollow of particular interest to him.
- notthepenguins
- Delcer
- Revlid
- NonSequtur
- Lexica
- chocolote12
- Timaeus
- Extract
- Lost Egos
- shepsquared
- Kelirapc
- FallenTemplar86
- Blasterbot
- 00mega
- Kairos123
- Imaflatsquid
- Chronobreak
- Microtec1
- undead frog
2 people have voted
[X]Szayelaporro Granz, the mad scientist, who wants you to find a deserter with stolen scientific data.
- NeverDies
- veekie
1 people have voted
[X] Aaroniero
- Changeofheart
1 people have voted
[X]Aaroniero Arruruerie
- Pandemonious Ivy
1 people have voted
[X] Barragan Luisenbarn
- Serpentine

Omicron · Apr 9, 2017

II. The Lost Crown

It would be unwise to ignore the requests of a king, you know this. You pick your sword again and hook it at your waist, resigning yourself to further service.

"It'll be fine, I'm sure," Esmeralda says encouragingly. "It can't be that important if he isn't sending his Fraccion, and if it's not that important it can't be too dangerous."

You smile weakly and give her a nod, although you're not sure how accurate her reassurance is. You pick up your coat again and walk up to the window, looking down at the sand below…

...you'll try this some other day. You wisely opt to take the stairs, waving a goodbye to Esmeralda which she returns.

"Stay safe!"

***

Barragan's hall is built to inspire awe.

It harkens to the night of Hueco Mundo, lost when the invaders ordered a dome built over Las Noches. Great walls of black stone rise around you, so far apart as to make every corridor seem like a hall of its own. In the ceiling, diamond-shaped holes stream in faint sunlight, creating the illusion of stars.

Your steps reverberate across the stone corridor, and are met with echoing sounds. From the dark ahead comes a tall and slender man, blond hair flowing past his shoulders. Almost his entire face is covered by his mask, even his eyes featureless yellow glows; only his mouth and cheeks show. In this perhaps you could feel kinship; Arrancars with almost-intact masks are often seen as incomplete, imperfect, and this is something you both share.

But he is Findor, and nobody likes Findor.

"The King will see you now," he says with a curt nod, then turns his back and motions for you to follow him.

The closer you get to the center of the building, the faster your heart beats. Your shoulders tremble slightly as you feel the waxing tide of a godlike reiatsu, one of the strongest you've ever felt.

Findor pushes open two great doors and you enter the room that could have been called a throne room, if Barragan still ruled. The pressure is most intense here, a grasping sensation on your bones, a push on your shoulders, whispering to you - 'Kneel.' At the far wall stands a stone chair, blocky and featureless, and in that chair an old man, brown skin weathered by the pretense of age, thick white moustache and eyebrows dominating his sharp-angled face. The man rests on his elbow, a picture of ennui, and as you come in he barely grants you a look.

Findor kneels in front of his master, and you quickly do the same.

"Majesty, you ordered for the first Arrancar to come back to Las Noches to be brought before you. She is here to await your orders."

Barragan furrows his eyebrows, looking you over, and you feel the pressure of his power intensifies as he gauges you - and then recede as he deems you of too little note to bother cowing.

"Such a trifle you are," he says, his voice old and deep. "A moth? More like a mayfly. I do not remember ever seeing you before."

He has, several times in fact, but you think it careful not to mention this aloud.

"Did you ever come to Las Noches? Before this, I mean, when the skies were my roof?"

You did, a few times. You never enjoyed it much; the presence of the King of Hueco Mundo was overbearing, his intent malignant, his servants fanatical. You didn't long. These were days of captivity in freedom: you had the sky to yourself, then, you were great and fast, a weightless winged thing of shadows and carapace, but a prisoner to your own hunger, to the fear of falling back. When you came to Barragan's court and mingled with his servants, you feared what you saw, and feared what you might become if you stayed too long.

"You saw its glory, then," the old man pursues. "But this is not the Las Noches of old, and there is a lord above me now. Aizen may rule over Hollows, but he is a shinigami at heart. He believes a palace should have a roof, and a sky a sun. For all his power there are things he does not comprehend. About our world, about our nature. He is a conquering king, a stranger in his new realm."

You shudder slightly to hear such talk. You are well-familiar with the fears of the low-ranking Arrancars, who believe that lord Aizen hears and sees everything within his fortress; that to talk ill of him in his absence is foolishness or suicide. But an Arrancar of Barragan's power has little care for such fears.

"And if you came to Las Noches when it still deserved this name, you must have seen me then. The power and glory of my natural form."

The crowned skull; the black regalia; the ruler of time, all names for one terrible being. Your hands clutch, fingers grasping at the stone ground beneath you. Memories of a Hollow's punishment, of the weight of millenia passing in a blink, of flesh turned to dust...

"You will perform a task for me, mayfly," Barragan says, straightening his posture. Besides you Findor tenses, his posture tinged with anger. "I had a crown in those days. Not the gracile thing that adorns my brow when I assume my full power today; not a part of me, but a work of art, a tall golden headpiece offered by a faithful servant. When Aizen conquered Las Noches it was lost; some treacherous inferior saw it fall from my head, and absconded with it."

"The crown is a… Memory," Barragan says, measuring his words. "It holds no power, and it is no longer a symbol of kingship, for Aizen rules and he desires no crown. Yet it is valuable to me. Over the years I have heard word of it appearing in some place or another, traded or stolen, and sent my Fraccions to investigate each time, but it was always gone again by the time they arrived. I have grown tired of sending my best servants only to fail again and again, and besides most of them are tending to more urgent tasks anyway."

The yellow glow of Findor's eyes brightens, for one heartbeat, so brief you wonder if you had not imagined it.

"I now hear the crown has appeared again, and I still desire it, but it is a task more deserving of a mayfly like you. Findor will tell you where to go; you will do everything in your power to retrieve my crown. Failure will be met with punishment. Do you understand?"

You swallow nervously and bow your head lower.

"Good. Now begone, mayfly."

You stand up, shaking slightly, and bow again before departing from the room. Findor follows you; you envy the ease with which he moves through his master's aura, the pressure making the air thick as molasses to you. Can a mere Fraccion truly be that much stronger than you, or is it simply force of habit that allows him to endure this power unflinchingly?

You've heard rumors among other low-ranking Arrancars that the constant proximity to the immense reiatsu of the Espada changes a Hollow, coaxes out their own power, and that this makes Fraccions stronger than Numeros. You doubt it. It seems more likely to you that the Espada simply pick powerful Arrancars as Fraccions in the first place.

"There is a village five days to the northeast," Findor says, locking steps with you. "Sitting by a small oasis, not far from a leafless grove. It was wiped out a few days ago. A few survivors came wandering here, hoping for safety in Las Noches. They were weak, and were cast out. It was only afterwards that we Royal Fraccions heard what they'd said: that the Hollows that had come as an army to raze their settlement were led by a Menos with a golden crown, tall and four-sided. We brought news to our king, but as you heard, it is not the first time this happens, and he has grown tired of failure. He sends you because you're unimportant, and if you fail, as you will, may be punished without losing a valuable subordinate."

The bluntness of the speech halts your steps. Findor eyes you, his mask making it impossible to read his features.

"We are the Fraccions of King Barragan. Where everyone else has forgotten his rightful title, we remember. We stand by his throne. We carry his axe. Do not think that an outsider like yourself, a weak opportunist, may rise to our ranks for a service rendered. There is no loyalty in your heart."

Or perhaps they are just holding on to bygone titles of an era when they still had relevance. Barragan is no longer the King of Hollows, and they seem a little foolish holding onto that claim. You don't tell Findor that, though.

"I have given you directions, and the King has given you orders. I am not required to assist you any further. Go, look for clues of the crown's whereabouts in the ashes of a ruined village, fail as we did before, come back and meet your fate. Goodbye," he says, and turns sharply on his heels, not giving you time for a question or a retort.

You look away from him, at the sunlit sands of Las Noches. You scratch one horn, thinking.

There isn't much to delay you in the fortress, when you think of it.

[ ]Make a detour by Esmeralda's "office" before setting out. She always has her hands on some interesting supplies, and could provide you with useful items for your trip.
[ ]Hurry back to the gate, where if you're quick enough you can catch the spider-hollow before it gets too far. Riding it, you'll get to your destination much faster (and hopefully back faster as well).
-[ ]Think of some kind of payment for the spider-taxi.

It's a long trek to the destroyed village. You'll have time to think about your meeting with Barragan and the situation of Aizen's army. In particular, you will consider your thoughts on the rulership of Hueco Mundo. What are you? Feel free to write in a more elaborate take on any of these, or your own.

[ ]Indifferent. The powerful of this world are more akin to passing storms than persons. Whoever rules, rules, and small fries like you simply have to try and make a living under them. The personal character of different rulers do not make them better or worse, but simply different flavors of hurricanes.
[ ]Faithful. Aizen freed you from the hunger, and for this you will forever be grateful. Not only do you owe him loyalty, he's also proven himself to be infinitely resourceful and clever, and the best chance for Hollows like you is under his direction.
[ ]Callous. Might makes right in a dog-eat-dog world. The Espada and Aizen got where they are by being stronger, and even if you can't match them, it's up to you to get as strong as you can be to survive and lord over others.
[ ]Bitter. All your life, you feared to set foot in the mortal world where the shinigami roamed. They have killed your kind for millennia, and now one of them rules over your world. You might not have been devoted to Barragan's rule, but there is something deeply wrong with a shinigami commanding Hollows.

To say that there is bad blood between you and Barragan Luisenbarn would be inaccurate for the simple reason that the gulf of power and authority between you precludes any kind of relationship. You are an ant to him. But ants are known for their stinging bite, and you hold a grudge against the deposed king. Why?

[ ]You had a friend once, a rarity among Menos. Someone you trusted not to try and eat you and who returned that trust. Then one day, he crossed the wrong line. He offended Barragan somehow, and you saw him aged to dust before your eyes.
[ ]You did in fact serve under Barragan. For years you were a scout in his army. You left because you feared the devotion of the others. You never expected him to think well of you, but he doesn't even remember your name or your mask, and that stings.
[ ]You were once part of an organized settlement, Hollows foolish enough to think the desert was large enough for them to live independently. One day Barragan heard of you, and the next his armies were swarming your village. You've been a nomad ever since.
[ ]Write-in.

Adhoc vote count started by Omicron on Apr 9, 2017 at 5:25 PM, finished with 410 posts and 28 votes.

14 people have voted
[X]Indifferent. The powerful of this world are akin to passing storms than persons. Whoever rules, rules, and small fries like you simply have to try and make a living under them. The personal character of different rulers do not make them better or worse, but simply different flavors of hurricanes.
- Thriceboiled
- Zhade
- Dragontrapper
- Chronic
- Microtec1
- TheLurker
- SoothingCoffee
- Gamefreak1ed
- IncognitoPotato
- Floom
- Nihilo
- notthepenguins
- Pumparum
- Timaeus
14 people have voted
[X]Hurry back to the gate, where if you're quick enough you can catch the spider-hollow before it gets too far. Riding it, you'll get to your destination much faster (and hopefully back faster as well).
- Chronic
- Gamefreak1ed
- IncognitoPotato
- NonSequtur
- D-san
- Crilltic
- Floom
- tricholysis
- Nihilo
- Wang and HuHu
- notthepenguins
- Pumparum
- BlackSun
- Timaeus
13 people have voted
[X]You had a friend once, a rarity among Menos. Someone you trusted not to try and eat you and who returned that trust. Then one day, he crossed the wrong line. He offended Barragan somehow, and you saw him aged to dust before your eyes.
- Thriceboiled
- Avalon Du Lac
- Dragontrapper
- Chronic
- Microtec1
- Gamefreak1ed
- Theaxofwar
- IncognitoPotato
- Floom
- PlatypusofFail
- Nihilo
- Pumparum
- Timaeus
7 people have voted
[X]Bitter. All your life, you feared to set foot in the mortal world where the shinigami roamed. They have killed your kind for millennia, and now one of them rules over your world. You might not have been devoted to Barragan's rule, but there is something deeply wrong with a shinigami commanding Hollows.
- Avalon Du Lac
- Theaxofwar
- tricholysis
- Guilop
- Revlid
- Guessmyname
- Extract
6 people have voted
[x]You did in fact serve under Barragan. For years you were a scout in his army. You left because you feared the devotion of the others. You never expected him to think well of you, but he doesn't even remember your name or your mask, and that stings.
5 people have voted
[X]Make a detour by Esmeralda's "office" before setting out. She always has her hands on some interesting supplies, and could provide you with useful items for your trip.
5 people have voted
- [x] Give him some proper curtains to keep the sand out. Sand in one's hole is not comfortable.
2 people have voted
[x] Write-In: Like A Moth To A Flame: Aizen's gift and Aizen's rule freed you from emptiness, and for that you are bound to him, but you are well aware of what happens to those who get too close and cannot withstand the heat. Your service to him is the tension between need and fear.
- NonSequtur
- Crilltic
2 people have voted
[X]Faithful. Aizen freed you from the hunger, and for this you will forever be grateful. Not only do you owe him loyalty, he's also proven himself to be infinitely resourceful and clever, and the best chance for Hollows like you is under his direction.
- D-san
- BlackSun
2 people have voted
[X]You were once part of an organized settlement, Hollows foolish enough to think the desert was large enough for them to live independently. One day Barragan heard of you, and the next his armies were swarming your village. You've been a nomad ever since.
- Revlid
- Extract
1 people have voted
[X] hurry back to the gate
- Changeofheart
1 people have voted
[X] bitter
- Changeofheart
1 people have voted
[X] served barragan
- Changeofheart
1 people have voted
[X] You lived on the outskirts, close enough to Barrigan's kingdom that most thought you were apart of it and far enough away to avoid getting ordered to do something. You leeched off of the fear his rule provided and flew free for a time.
- D-san
1 people have voted
[X]Callous. Might makes right in a dog-eat-dog world. The Espada and Aizen got where they are by being stronger, and even if you can't match them, it's up to you to get as strong as you can be to survive and lord over others.
- PlatypusofFail
1 people have voted
[X]Indifferent. The powerful of this world are more akin to passing storms than persons. Whoever rules, rules, and small fries like you simply have to try and make a living under them. The personal character of different rulers do not make them better or worse, but simply different flavors of hurricanes.
- Wang and HuHu

Adhoc vote count started by Omicron on Apr 9, 2017 at 7:42 PM, finished with 433 posts and 37 votes.

18 people have voted
[X]Hurry back to the gate, where if you're quick enough you can catch the spider-hollow before it gets too far. Riding it, you'll get to your destination much faster (and hopefully back faster as well).
- Chronic
- Gamefreak1ed
- IncognitoPotato
- NonSequtur
- D-san
- Crilltic
- Floom
- tricholysis
- Nihilo
- Wang and HuHu
- notthepenguins
- Pumparum
- BlackSun
- Timaeus
- Racoras
- Dutch
- tri2
- Bilbo Baggins
18 people have voted
[X]Indifferent. The powerful of this world are akin to passing storms than persons. Whoever rules, rules, and small fries like you simply have to try and make a living under them. The personal character of different rulers do not make them better or worse, but simply different flavors of hurricanes.
- Thriceboiled
- Zhade
- Dragontrapper
- Chronic
- Microtec1
- TheLurker
- SoothingCoffee
- Gamefreak1ed
- IncognitoPotato
- Floom
- Nihilo
- notthepenguins
- Pumparum
- Draton
- TheShadow16
- tri2
- Camellia
- Bilbo Baggins
16 people have voted
[X]You had a friend once, a rarity among Menos. Someone you trusted not to try and eat you and who returned that trust. Then one day, he crossed the wrong line. He offended Barragan somehow, and you saw him aged to dust before your eyes.
- Thriceboiled
- Avalon Du Lac
- Dragontrapper
- Chronic
- Microtec1
- Gamefreak1ed
- Theaxofwar
- IncognitoPotato
- Floom
- PlatypusofFail
- Nihilo
- Pumparum
- Draton
- TheShadow16
- Camellia
- Bilbo Baggins
9 people have voted
[x]You did in fact serve under Barragan. For years you were a scout in his army. You left because you feared the devotion of the others. You never expected him to think well of you, but he doesn't even remember your name or your mask, and that stings.
- NonSequtur
- Crilltic
- tricholysis
- Wang and HuHu
- notthepenguins
- Guilop
- Racoras
- Dutch
- tri2
8 people have voted
- [x] Give him some proper curtains to keep the sand out. Sand in one's hole is not comfortable.
- NonSequtur
- Crilltic
- Floom
- Wang and HuHu
- notthepenguins
- Racoras
- Dutch
- tri2
7 people have voted
[X]Make a detour by Esmeralda's "office" before setting out. She always has her hands on some interesting supplies, and could provide you with useful items for your trip.
7 people have voted
[X]Bitter. All your life, you feared to set foot in the mortal world where the shinigami roamed. They have killed your kind for millennia, and now one of them rules over your world. You might not have been devoted to Barragan's rule, but there is something deeply wrong with a shinigami commanding Hollows.
- Avalon Du Lac
- tricholysis
- Guilop
- Timaeus
- Revlid
- Guessmyname
- Extract
4 people have voted
[X]Faithful. Aizen freed you from the hunger, and for this you will forever be grateful. Not only do you owe him loyalty, he's also proven himself to be infinitely resourceful and clever, and the best chance for Hollows like you isunder his direction.
- Theaxofwar
- D-san
- BlackSun
- Racoras
3 people have voted
[X]You were once part of an organized settlement, Hollows foolish enough to think the desert was large enough for them to live independently. One day Barragan heard of you, and the next his armies were swarming your village. You've been a nomad ever since.
- Timaeus
- Revlid
- Extract
3 people have voted
[x] Write-In: Like A Moth To A Flame: Aizen's gift and Aizen's rule freed you from emptiness, and for that you are bound to him, but you are well aware of what happens to those who get too close and cannot withstand the heat. Your service to him is the tension between need and fear.
2 people have voted
[X]Indifferent. The powerful of this world are more akin to passing storms than persons. Whoever rules, rules, and small fries like you simply have to try and make a living under them. The personal character of different rulers do not make them better or worse, but simply different flavors of hurricanes.
- Wang and HuHu
- Andres
1 people have voted
[X] served barragan
- Changeofheart
1 people have voted
[X] bitter
- Changeofheart
1 people have voted
[X] hurry back to the gate
- Changeofheart
1 people have voted
[X] You lived on the outskirts, close enough to Barrigan's kingdom that most thought you were apart of it and far enough away to avoid getting ordered to do something. You leeched off of the fear his rule provided and flew free for a time.
- D-san
1 people have voted
[X]Callous. Might makes right in a dog-eat-dog world. The Espada and Aizen got where they are by being stronger, and even if you can't match them, it's up to you to get as strong as you can be to survive and lord over others.
- PlatypusofFail
1 people have voted
[X]Hurry back to the gate, where if you're quick enough you can catch the spider-hollow before it gets too far.
- Serpentine
1 people have voted
[X]Callous
- Serpentine
1 people have voted
[X]You had a friend once
- Serpentine

Adhoc vote count started by Omicron on Apr 10, 2017 at 8:05 AM, finished with 504 posts and 54 votes.

30 people have voted
[X]Hurry back to the gate, where if you're quick enough you can catch the spider-hollow before it gets too far. Riding it, you'll get to your destination much faster (and hopefully back faster as well).
- Chronic
- Gamefreak1ed
- IncognitoPotato
- NonSequtur
- D-san
- Crilltic
- Floom
- tricholysis
- Nihilo
- Wang and HuHu
- notthepenguins
- Pumparum
- BlackSun
- Timaeus
- Racoras
- Dutch
- tri2
- Bilbo Baggins
- typeterra
- Delcer
- darkoda
- Khona Moshr
- Alectai
- Manic Dogma
- chocolote12
- formalAI
- Lealope
- GhostKing 666
- King Prussia
- ChildishChimera
23 people have voted
[X]Indifferent. The powerful of this world are akin to passing storms than persons. Whoever rules, rules, and small fries like you simply have to try and make a living under them. The personal character of different rulers do not make them better or worse, but simply different flavors of hurricanes.
- Thriceboiled
- Zhade
- Dragontrapper
- Chronic
- Microtec1
- TheLurker
- SoothingCoffee
- Gamefreak1ed
- IncognitoPotato
- Floom
- Nihilo
- notthepenguins
- Pumparum
- Draton
- TheShadow16
- tri2
- Camellia
- Bilbo Baggins
- typeterra
- darkoda
- Alectai
- formalAI
- ChildishChimera
20 people have voted
[X]You had a friend once, a rarity among Menos. Someone you trusted not to try and eat you and who returned that trust. Then one day, he crossed the wrong line. He offended Barragan somehow, and you saw him aged to dust before your eyes.
- Thriceboiled
- Avalon Du Lac
- Dragontrapper
- Chronic
- Microtec1
- Gamefreak1ed
- Theaxofwar
- IncognitoPotato
- Floom
- PlatypusofFail
- Nihilo
- Pumparum
- Draton
- TheShadow16
- Camellia
- Bilbo Baggins
- typeterra
- darkoda
- Alectai
- formalAI
20 people have voted
[x]You did in fact serve under Barragan. For years you were a scout in his army. You left because you feared the devotion of the others. You never expected him to think well of you, but he doesn't even remember your name or your mask, and that stings.
- NonSequtur
- Crilltic
- tricholysis
- Wang and HuHu
- notthepenguins
- Guilop
- Racoras
- Dutch
- tri2
- Delcer
- BrotherB
- Khona Moshr
- Zaratustra
- Manic Dogma
- chocolote12
- Blood of Gaea
- Lealope
- GhostKing 666
- King Prussia
- ChildishChimera
15 people have voted
- [x] Give him some proper curtains to keep the sand out. Sand in one's hole is not comfortable.
- NonSequtur
- Crilltic
- Floom
- Wang and HuHu
- notthepenguins
- Racoras
- Dutch
- tri2
- Delcer
- Khona Moshr
- Manic Dogma
- chocolote12
- Lealope
- King Prussia
- ChildishChimera
12 people have voted
[X]Make a detour by Esmeralda's "office" before setting out. She always has her hands on some interesting supplies, and could provide you with useful items for your trip.
- Thriceboiled
- Avalon Du Lac
- Dragontrapper
- Theaxofwar
- Guilop
- TheShadow16
- Camellia
- BrotherB
- Zaratustra
- Blood of Gaea
- HeavyBane
- Qoel
9 people have voted
[X]Bitter. All your life, you feared to set foot in the mortal world where the shinigami roamed. They have killed your kind for millennia, and now one of them rules over your world. You might not have been devoted to Barragan's rule, but there is something deeply wrong with a shinigami commanding Hollows.
- Avalon Du Lac
- tricholysis
- Guilop
- Timaeus
- Revlid
- Guessmyname
- Extract
- BrotherB
- Zaratustra
9 people have voted
[x] Write-In: Like A Moth To A Flame: Aizen's gift and Aizen's rule freed you from emptiness, and for that you are bound to him, but you are well aware of what happens to those who get too close and cannot withstand the heat. Your service to him is the tension between need and fear.
- NonSequtur
- Crilltic
- Dutch
- Khona Moshr
- Manic Dogma
- chocolote12
- Lealope
- GhostKing 666
- King Prussia
5 people have voted
[X]Faithful. Aizen freed you from the hunger, and for this you will forever be grateful. Not only do you owe him loyalty, he's also proven himself to be infinitely resourceful and clever, and the best chance for Hollows like you isunder his direction.
- Theaxofwar
- D-san
- BlackSun
- Racoras
- Blood of Gaea
4 people have voted
[X]Indifferent. The powerful of this world are more akin to passing storms than persons. Whoever rules, rules, and small fries like you simply have to try and make a living under them. The personal character of different rulers do not make them better or worse, but simply different flavors of hurricanes.
- Wang and HuHu
- Andres
- HeavyBane
- Qoel
3 people have voted
[X]You were once part of an organized settlement, Hollows foolish enough to think the desert was large enough for them to live independently. One day Barragan heard of you, and the next his armies were swarming your village. You've been a nomad ever since.
- Timaeus
- Revlid
- Extract
2 people have voted
[X]Callous. Might makes right in a dog-eat-dog world. The Espada and Aizen got where they are by being stronger, and even if you can't match them, it's up to you to get as strong as you can be to survive and lord over others.
- PlatypusofFail
- Delcer
1 people have voted
[X] served barragan
- Changeofheart
1 people have voted
[X] bitter
- Changeofheart
1 people have voted
[X] hurry back to the gate
- Changeofheart
1 people have voted
[X] You lived on the outskirts, close enough to Barrigan's kingdom that most thought you were apart of it and far enough away to avoid getting ordered to do something. You leeched off of the fear his rule provided and flew free for a time.
- D-san
1 people have voted
[X]Hurry back to the gate, where if you're quick enough you can catch the spider-hollow before it gets too far.
- Serpentine
1 people have voted
[X]Callous
- Serpentine
1 people have voted
[X]You had a friend once
- Serpentine

Adhoc vote count started by Omicron on Apr 10, 2017 at 10:41 AM, finished with 512 posts and 58 votes.

33 people have voted
[X]Hurry back to the gate, where if you're quick enough you can catch the spider-hollow before it gets too far. Riding it, you'll get to your destination much faster (and hopefully back faster as well).
- Chronic
- Gamefreak1ed
- IncognitoPotato
- NonSequtur
- D-san
- Crilltic
- Floom
- tricholysis
- Nihilo
- Wang and HuHu
- notthepenguins
- Pumparum
- BlackSun
- Timaeus
- Racoras
- Dutch
- tri2
- Bilbo Baggins
- typeterra
- Delcer
- darkoda
- Khona Moshr
- Alectai
- Manic Dogma
- chocolote12
- formalAI
- Lealope
- GhostKing 666
- King Prussia
- ChildishChimera
- Pipeman
- Zhade
- Chehrazad
25 people have voted
[X]Indifferent. The powerful of this world are akin to passing storms than persons. Whoever rules, rules, and small fries like you simply have to try and make a living under them. The personal character of different rulers do not make them better or worse, but simply different flavors of hurricanes.
- Thriceboiled
- Dragontrapper
- Chronic
- Microtec1
- TheLurker
- SoothingCoffee
- Gamefreak1ed
- IncognitoPotato
- Floom
- Nihilo
- notthepenguins
- Pumparum
- Draton
- TheShadow16
- tri2
- Camellia
- Bilbo Baggins
- typeterra
- darkoda
- Alectai
- formalAI
- ChildishChimera
- Pipeman
- veekie
- Zhade
23 people have voted
[X]You had a friend once, a rarity among Menos. Someone you trusted not to try and eat you and who returned that trust. Then one day, he crossed the wrong line. He offended Barragan somehow, and you saw him aged to dust before your eyes.
- Thriceboiled
- Avalon Du Lac
- Dragontrapper
- Chronic
- Microtec1
- Gamefreak1ed
- Theaxofwar
- IncognitoPotato
- Floom
- PlatypusofFail
- Nihilo
- Pumparum
- Draton
- TheShadow16
- Camellia
- Bilbo Baggins
- typeterra
- darkoda
- Alectai
- formalAI
- Pipeman
- veekie
- Zhade
21 people have voted
[x]You did in fact serve under Barragan. For years you were a scout in his army. You left because you feared the devotion of the others. You never expected him to think well of you, but he doesn't even remember your name or your mask, and that stings.
- NonSequtur
- Crilltic
- tricholysis
- Wang and HuHu
- notthepenguins
- Guilop
- Racoras
- Dutch
- tri2
- Delcer
- BrotherB
- Khona Moshr
- Zaratustra
- Manic Dogma
- chocolote12
- Blood of Gaea
- Lealope
- GhostKing 666
- King Prussia
- ChildishChimera
- Chehrazad
16 people have voted
- [x] Give him some proper curtains to keep the sand out. Sand in one's hole is not comfortable.
- NonSequtur
- Crilltic
- Floom
- Wang and HuHu
- notthepenguins
- Racoras
- Dutch
- tri2
- Delcer
- Khona Moshr
- Manic Dogma
- chocolote12
- Lealope
- King Prussia
- ChildishChimera
- Chehrazad
13 people have voted
[X]Make a detour by Esmeralda's "office" before setting out. She always has her hands on some interesting supplies, and could provide you with useful items for your trip.
- Thriceboiled
- Avalon Du Lac
- Dragontrapper
- Theaxofwar
- Guilop
- TheShadow16
- Camellia
- BrotherB
- Zaratustra
- Blood of Gaea
- HeavyBane
- Qoel
- veekie
10 people have voted
[x] Write-In: Like A Moth To A Flame: Aizen's gift and Aizen's rule freed you from emptiness, and for that you are bound to him, but you are well aware of what happens to those who get too close and cannot withstand the heat. Your service to him is the tension between need and fear.
- NonSequtur
- Crilltic
- Dutch
- Khona Moshr
- Manic Dogma
- chocolote12
- Lealope
- GhostKing 666
- King Prussia
- Chehrazad
9 people have voted
[X]Bitter. All your life, you feared to set foot in the mortal world where the shinigami roamed. They have killed your kind for millennia, and now one of them rules over your world. You might not have been devoted to Barragan's rule, but there is something deeply wrong with a shinigami commanding Hollows.
- Avalon Du Lac
- tricholysis
- Guilop
- Timaeus
- Revlid
- Guessmyname
- Extract
- BrotherB
- Zaratustra
5 people have voted
[X]Faithful. Aizen freed you from the hunger, and for this you will forever be grateful. Not only do you owe him loyalty, he's also proven himself to be infinitely resourceful and clever, and the best chance for Hollows like you isunder his direction.
- Theaxofwar
- D-san
- BlackSun
- Racoras
- Blood of Gaea
4 people have voted
[X]Indifferent. The powerful of this world are more akin to passing storms than persons. Whoever rules, rules, and small fries like you simply have to try and make a living under them. The personal character of different rulers do not make them better or worse, but simply different flavors of hurricanes.
- Wang and HuHu
- Andres
- HeavyBane
- Qoel
3 people have voted
[X]You were once part of an organized settlement, Hollows foolish enough to think the desert was large enough for them to live independently. One day Barragan heard of you, and the next his armies were swarming your village. You've been a nomad ever since.
- Timaeus
- Revlid
- Extract
2 people have voted
[X]Callous. Might makes right in a dog-eat-dog world. The Espada and Aizen got where they are by being stronger, and even if you can't match them, it's up to you to get as strong as you can be to survive and lord over others.
- PlatypusofFail
- Delcer
1 people have voted
[X] served barragan
- Changeofheart
1 people have voted
[X] bitter
- Changeofheart
1 people have voted
[X] hurry back to the gate
- Changeofheart
1 people have voted
[X] You lived on the outskirts, close enough to Barrigan's kingdom that most thought you were apart of it and far enough away to avoid getting ordered to do something. You leeched off of the fear his rule provided and flew free for a time.
- D-san
1 people have voted
[X]Hurry back to the gate, where if you're quick enough you can catch the spider-hollow before it gets too far.
- Serpentine
1 people have voted
[X]Callous
- Serpentine
1 people have voted
[X]You had a friend once
- Serpentine
1 people have voted
[X] Hurry up to the gate
- Marla
1 people have voted
[X] Indifferent
- Marla
1 people have voted
[X] You did serve Barragan once
- Marla

Adhoc vote count started by Omicron on Apr 10, 2017 at 11:29 AM, finished with 515 posts and 58 votes.

33 people have voted
[X]Hurry back to the gate, where if you're quick enough you can catch the spider-hollow before it gets too far. Riding it, you'll get to your destination much faster (and hopefully back faster as well).
- Chronic
- Gamefreak1ed
- IncognitoPotato
- NonSequtur
- D-san
- Crilltic
- Floom
- tricholysis
- Nihilo
- Wang and HuHu
- notthepenguins
- Pumparum
- BlackSun
- Timaeus
- Racoras
- Dutch
- tri2
- Bilbo Baggins
- typeterra
- Delcer
- darkoda
- Khona Moshr
- Alectai
- Manic Dogma
- chocolote12
- formalAI
- Lealope
- GhostKing 666
- King Prussia
- ChildishChimera
- Pipeman
- Zhade
- Chehrazad
25 people have voted
[X]Indifferent. The powerful of this world are akin to passing storms than persons. Whoever rules, rules, and small fries like you simply have to try and make a living under them. The personal character of different rulers do not make them better or worse, but simply different flavors of hurricanes.
- Thriceboiled
- Dragontrapper
- Chronic
- Microtec1
- TheLurker
- SoothingCoffee
- Gamefreak1ed
- IncognitoPotato
- Floom
- Nihilo
- notthepenguins
- Pumparum
- Draton
- TheShadow16
- tri2
- Camellia
- Bilbo Baggins
- typeterra
- darkoda
- Alectai
- formalAI
- ChildishChimera
- Pipeman
- veekie
- Zhade
23 people have voted
[X]You had a friend once, a rarity among Menos. Someone you trusted not to try and eat you and who returned that trust. Then one day, he crossed the wrong line. He offended Barragan somehow, and you saw him aged to dust before your eyes.
- Thriceboiled
- Avalon Du Lac
- Dragontrapper
- Chronic
- Microtec1
- Gamefreak1ed
- Theaxofwar
- IncognitoPotato
- Floom
- PlatypusofFail
- Nihilo
- Pumparum
- Draton
- TheShadow16
- Camellia
- Bilbo Baggins
- typeterra
- darkoda
- Alectai
- formalAI
- Pipeman
- veekie
- Zhade
21 people have voted
[x]You did in fact serve under Barragan. For years you were a scout in his army. You left because you feared the devotion of the others. You never expected him to think well of you, but he doesn't even remember your name or your mask, and that stings.
- NonSequtur
- Crilltic
- tricholysis
- Wang and HuHu
- notthepenguins
- Guilop
- Racoras
- Dutch
- tri2
- Delcer
- BrotherB
- Khona Moshr
- Zaratustra
- Manic Dogma
- chocolote12
- Blood of Gaea
- Lealope
- GhostKing 666
- King Prussia
- ChildishChimera
- Chehrazad
16 people have voted
- [x] Give him some proper curtains to keep the sand out. Sand in one's hole is not comfortable.
- NonSequtur
- Crilltic
- Floom
- Wang and HuHu
- notthepenguins
- Racoras
- Dutch
- tri2
- Delcer
- Khona Moshr
- Manic Dogma
- chocolote12
- Lealope
- King Prussia
- ChildishChimera
- Chehrazad
13 people have voted
[X]Make a detour by Esmeralda's "office" before setting out. She always has her hands on some interesting supplies, and could provide you with useful items for your trip.
- Thriceboiled
- Avalon Du Lac
- Dragontrapper
- Theaxofwar
- Guilop
- TheShadow16
- Camellia
- BrotherB
- Zaratustra
- Blood of Gaea
- HeavyBane
- Qoel
- veekie
10 people have voted
[x] Write-In: Like A Moth To A Flame: Aizen's gift and Aizen's rule freed you from emptiness, and for that you are bound to him, but you are well aware of what happens to those who get too close and cannot withstand the heat. Your service to him is the tension between need and fear.
- NonSequtur
- Crilltic
- Dutch
- Khona Moshr
- Manic Dogma
- chocolote12
- Lealope
- GhostKing 666
- King Prussia
- Chehrazad
9 people have voted
[X]Bitter. All your life, you feared to set foot in the mortal world where the shinigami roamed. They have killed your kind for millennia, and now one of them rules over your world. You might not have been devoted to Barragan's rule, but there is something deeply wrong with a shinigami commanding Hollows.
- Avalon Du Lac
- tricholysis
- Guilop
- Timaeus
- Revlid
- Guessmyname
- Extract
- BrotherB
- Zaratustra
5 people have voted
[X]Faithful. Aizen freed you from the hunger, and for this you will forever be grateful. Not only do you owe him loyalty, he's also proven himself to be infinitely resourceful and clever, and the best chance for Hollows like you isunder his direction.
- Theaxofwar
- D-san
- BlackSun
- Racoras
- Blood of Gaea
4 people have voted
[X]Indifferent. The powerful of this world are more akin to passing storms than persons. Whoever rules, rules, and small fries like you simply have to try and make a living under them. The personal character of different rulers do not make them better or worse, but simply different flavors of hurricanes.
- Wang and HuHu
- Andres
- HeavyBane
- Qoel
3 people have voted
[X]You were once part of an organized settlement, Hollows foolish enough to think the desert was large enough for them to live independently. One day Barragan heard of you, and the next his armies were swarming your village. You've been a nomad ever since.
- Timaeus
- Revlid
- Extract
2 people have voted
[X]Callous. Might makes right in a dog-eat-dog world. The Espada and Aizen got where they are by being stronger, and even if you can't match them, it's up to you to get as strong as you can be to survive and lord over others.
- PlatypusofFail
- Delcer
1 people have voted
[X] You lived on the outskirts, close enough to Barrigan's kingdom that most thought you were apart of it and far enough away to avoid getting ordered to do something. You leeched off of the fear his rule provided and flew free for a time.
- D-san
1 people have voted
[X]Hurry back to the gate, where if you're quick enough you can catch the spider-hollow before it gets too far.
- Serpentine
1 people have voted
[X]Callous
- Serpentine
1 people have voted
[X]You had a friend once
- Serpentine
1 people have voted
[X] Hurry up to the gate
- Marla
1 people have voted
[X] Indifferent
- Marla
1 people have voted
[X] You did serve Barragan once
- Marla
1 people have voted
[x] Like A Moth To A Flame
- Changeofheart

Tempera · Apr 10, 2017

Okay, since the vote is over and my favoured vote won, here's an omake. (Credit given to @NonSequtur for helping me edit this thing; it wouldn't flow as well as it does without his help.)

Omake: friend spider

You catch the spider-hollow still near the walls of Barragan's hall. Good- you had worried, for a moment, that the spider had travelled too far, and you would not be able to catch up. It is hard for two legs to match the speed of eleven… or fourteen- it is hard for two legs to match a multitude.

It looks up at you from where it had stopped, atop the remains of a Hollow. Your pace slows for a moment as you sense something from it- hunger, a ravenous hunger- but it's swallowed in an instant, and it acknowledges you with a hearty, "Hello!"

You acknowledge the greeting with one of your own. Then you look down at the corpse beneath it. A fresh meal?

"Indeed." It smiles as pleasantly as a spider can. "Are you hungry?"

No. The denial is instant. You are not hungry, but you are thankful for the offer. You have not eaten in some time, and you can feel the faint stirrings of hunger in your gut, but you decline to share that with the spider; and besides, it is not a hunger that can compel you, now.

It dips its head in acknowledgement of your thanks anyway. "So why have you sought me out again, little hollow?"

You need a ride again. You have a long distance to walk, and you're not sure how long it will take.

"And why should I let you?" It folds its legs in four places so it can bring itself closer to your height. The smell of Hollow-flesh flows over you as it talks, stirring the faint flames of hunger in your stomach until you fight them down once again.

You can help it. You cast around desperately for a moment, thinking. Then you see the sand still sliding from its back. You- You have cloth! A shawl, to keep it clear of sand! Your curtains, of course, but you do not tell it that either.

"A question, pray tell," the spider asks, eight eyes focusing on you at once, deathly serious. "What use have I for a shawl to cover me from the sand, when it is known that I live beneath the sand?"

You pause. It is a good question, you admit with a wry twist to your mouth. You are not a clever girl.

The spider chitters gleefully, and you realize you've been had. "Still, my thanks for the thought! Keep your shawl, young girl. I ask for nothing but conversation to pass the time, and that you not eat me when we reach our journey's end."

A fair trade. You have no desire to eat it, anyway. It is friendly and it talks well. You pull yourself up on the spider's back, settling once again into one of the uncomfortable almost-seats in its abdomen.

There is a pause, and then the spider chitters once more, its voice echoing within its cavernous interior. "Many powers I have, but mind-reading is not amongst them! You must tell me where you wish to go if you wish us to arrive within the century, my girl!"

Nemo. Your name is Nemo.

"Nemo, then. Still, you must tell me which direction we travel in, unless you wish me to walk as I will and simply hope we arrive at your destination!"

Fair. You lean out of the carriage and provide him with the directions Barragan gave you earlier.

It gives you moments to settle in and find your position before it begins to speak again. "I must say, I had not expected such a place of power when I offered to bear you to your destination. Such power you hide behind that mask of yours, little one!"

You snort mirthlessly. It is not your power; it is that of Barragan. The words are short in your mouth, almost resentful.

"Alas, then," it replies, although no regret lies within its tone. "Perhaps one day you, too, shall command such power!" It chitters again, pleased with the idea, or perhaps amused by it.

Perhaps. Such power is not for you to aspire to. Power such as that, power wielded effortlessly, to crush any and all that stand in your path, like Barragan and his ilk- hunger rises in your heart at the thought, even as revulsion worms in your stomach. The power to crush any in your way, deserving or undeserving.

It is in the nature of a Hollow to seek power. Perhaps you may achieve that power, one day. Perhaps not.

"If that is what you hunger for, you just might," your spider-friend says in turn, as its long legs carry you with ease through the shifting grains of Hueco Mundo.

NonSequtur · Apr 10, 2017

Distraction

You were perched up in the spindly branches of one of Hueco Mundo's strangest features - the subterranean forest. Hunger gnawed at you, as it always did, and your fear of dissolution sharpened it into a potent goad. This made your finding this place fortunate; forests were often full of the tall, mindless hollows.

Speak of the devil. One had appeared, ambling mindlessly through the vast rocky trunks below, mouth open and nose sniffing the air. It hadn't seemed to have noticed you.

You blasted it with a dusky Cero that took the form of a screaming soul, and then flitted to another tree before the smoke cleared. With luck, it had been crippled or mortally wounded, and you could eat it at your leisure. But you're generally not that lucky. If it turned into a fight, at least it couldn't simply aim for where you had been.

You tensed as a tall shape burst through the smoke and- was it running?

It was. Your meal was running away, honking in distress.

You stared for a moment, then gave chase, dashing from trunk to trunk, trying to get a clear shot on the stupid, stupid- !!!

It was luck, more than anything, that saved your life in that moment. Your immaterial flitting certainly hadn't been deliberately timed for when the mess of spikes and threads collapsed upon the space between the trees, turning your target into mincemeat.

You stayed perfectly still and tried to blend into the deep shadows of the subterrain and calm yourself. You had been... very close to being diced yourself, you realize.

"That was amazing!" called a voice from behind you.

From behind you.

You turned around slowly, ready blast at the slightest hint of danger. There, on the ground, stood a small, white hollow which resembled a mantis, if mantises were covered in spikes. Were they? You weren't sure.

It was still staring at you. It didn't... look dangerous.

A chunk of meat slides down your tree.

"Most people don't survive that," it added, as if that would be a comfort to you. "Do you, uh, want to split it?"

Split it? You were suspicious and hungry in equal measure.

It - he? - began to stammer, claws fiddling at nothing. "I mean, you did half of the work, right? I can't really, uh, most of the time, that is to say-"

His stomach growled.

"I can't exactly make anything go into my traps, right? It's a lot of waiting."

And?

"And, I was wondering if you might help me with that? Bait- or herd, whatever, maybe you don't want to be bait - the tall ones into traps, and we can split the meal," he ended hopefully.

You would like to say you considered the matter thoughtfully, but you were hungry. You'd accept any offer that promised more meals than simply hunting yourself.

"Huh? You will?" he perked up. "That's great!"

An awkward pause.

He coughed, gesturing vaguely at the mass of hollow-meat. "So uh, you first? Friend?"

You were already eating.

And so it went, for quite a while. Two hollows, hunting in the forests hidden beneath the sands. One to set the trap, and the other to bait it. The mantis proved to have a rare passion, for a hollow, and would invent ever more elaborate trap sequences for you to lead the menos into. It was dangerous, pointless work, flitting through mazes of collapsing wires and hurled darts when a basic tripwire and noose would do, but you indulged him. It broke the monotony, at least.

But tools and traps could be tracked. Could be used to hunt a poacher down, even if the hunting grounds had never been marked as property. Could be shrugged off by a Hollow of sufficient power and boredom, who would take such an intense interest in such a petty crime, to chase the criminal across the endless sands and subterrains, far beyond the pillars of his palace. Could be used as evidence in a pageantry of a trial, and tossed on to a grave after an execution.

Hollows don't age, truly. But they can starve, go mad, and eat themselves when a thousand years pass in the blink of an eye. Breaking your mask freed you from those waking fears, if not their dreaming echoes.

Omicron · Apr 10, 2017

III. Paces in the Sand

"You take me to the most interesting places," the spider comments as it comes to a halt.

Water is rare in Hueco Mundo, but it does exist. You are standing on a dune, overlooking a glittering pool of water. Small, but beautiful, the moon rippling across it waters. And besides it is a village - or was, once.

It's nothing but ashes and burnt foundations now. You feel sorry about taking your new friend to such ominous places, but it only chuckles (it's a disturbing sound, full of clicking mandibles).

"Don't worry about it. It's only par for the course in this desert. Will you be needing a ride back?"

Yes, and perhaps a little further before that. This is only the raided village; if your search bears fruit, you will likely have to follow a trail elsewhere, to wherever that mysterious army came from. If it does not… Well, perhaps it would be better to keep riding forward, away from Las Noches, than coming back empty-handed.

"If you need to go further it will have to be alone, I'm afraid. We ran for days, and I am quite hungry. I will be hunting in these dunes for a while. When your business is done, come back, and I will be happy to take you back."

You're grateful.

You're also afraid. The last time you bonded with another Hollow… No, this was ages ago, and besides this spider could not be said to be a friend yet. It does not deserve thinking about for now.

Even if you are running an errand for the very man who killed him.

You hop off the spider and wave to it. It answers with another clicking of mandibles, and then is gone in a spray of sand, its agility belying its size.

You tighten your cloak around your shoulders, feeling an eerie chill on your skin, and set off towards the village.

There's a part of you, a distant and detached part, that wishes it could actually have seen the village itself for the sole reason of seeing a change from Las Noches's sterile, gigantic, overbearing architecture. Alas there is very little to see here - square patterns of stone, broken beams of quartz cut from the white stone-trees of the desert, heaps of collapsed rubble. Cinders, here and there, and charred marks on the broken stone.

There is no wood in Hueco Mundo; buildings are made of stone. A village cannot simply be set on fire. This was the work of a Cero. A Menos was here.

And there is blood. No flesh, no bones, but blood on the stones. You pass your finger through it - it is days old now, but the feeling of faint spiritual potency lingers. Hollow blood, then. And there is a lot of it now that you know to look, staining many of the ruins. But no body.

Whatever horde came to this settlement must have devoured the inhabitants on the spot. An orgy of hunger leaving not one scrap of flesh, but messily staining the feasting hall. You've seen it before.

Such a number of Hollows would have left a trail, but it's been too long; wind has covered the wake of the marching spirits. You pace the village, time seeming to lose meaning as you explore ruined hovel after crumbling house, street after outskirt, and find not one footstep to follow.

Ah, but in the end you do find something, although it takes you a long time. At the north end of the village, you spot a little thing sticking out of the sand. You bend over to pick it up and find it heavier than you thought - you brush off the sand and pull out of a dune a piece of bone-like material, slightly curved, with a hole in the shape of an eye. A Hollow mask - not always an easy thing to digest, especially on the move.

It's outside the village, so perhaps it was someone attempting to escape who was run down and eaten on the spot. If that's the case then you don't have any lead. It could be, however, that it was dropped by a Hollow of the army as they marched away from the village, their assault ended. It's worth a shot. You set off towards the northeast, walking slowly and scanning the ground.

There, a white quartz-tree has lost a branch, broken by the passing of some lumbering form. You have a better sense of their direction now.

It takes a very long time. Hours? A day? More? You are no mortal, bound by hunger or the need for sleep. You are no Fraccion, consumed by her self-importance, convinced that there is better for her to do elsewhere. You are patient, cautious. You walk, back and forth across sand, examining rocks and trees, picking pieces of Hollow bodies, bits of torn fabric out of the sand. You trace the path one step at a time.

Eventually you see it. There is a rock in the distance, a blue-white protrusion jutting out of the sands. A mountain, although perhaps smaller than one. The army marched in this direction, and you feel confident that this was their destination. You stop tracking and start running; you dash across the sand, cloak floating on the wind, seeming to disappear for a half-second every time your feet touch the ground. The rock looms ever larger as you approach.

When you begin to see the shape of creatures you slow your run. Inertia carries you forward, sliding across the sand; it scatters over you as you take an angle and come to hide behind a dune. Your fingers twitch nervously, hoping you haven't been spotted from afar; you lie down in the sand and crawl on your hands and knees.

The horns of your mask poke from the dune, and beneath them your eyes. You don't feel very comfortable with this. You're a stealthy kind, certainly, but Hueco Mundo is all open terrain, terrible for the likes of yours.

There is an opening in the rock. It is very tall, and very rough; a jagged knife wound in the mountain, such that you are not sure whether it is natural or Hollow-made. What was certainly made by hand is the sigil above that opening; a crude image of a four-sided crown hovering over a butcher's cleaver. Around the gash - the door, you suppose - a handful of Hollows idle. They are no Menos, although their forms are particularly twisted; a snake-like creature whose arms are twisting lampreys rebelling against its will, a rolling slug with a dozen of hands as rounded and soft as a babes, a great masked tiger who would be awe-inspiring if its legs were not all of slightly different sizes, making his steps crooked, and more besides, sometimes coming out of the gate, sometimes going in. You think they're supposed to stand watch, although they do not excel at it; two of them are engaged in some kind of game in the sand, tracing lines, throwing sticks, counting points. One of them is obviously hunting for food without daring to go too far from his position, and meeting little success.

A small Hollow lizard scurries its way up the dune, staring at the rock with you. What a simple existence for this mindless creature - feeding on ambient reiatsu, hiding from taller and bigger things, never knowing age, guilt, or true hunger.

You snatch him from the sand and chew off its head in one bite. You might not need to feed upon spirits anymore, but it still tastes good. The rest of it goes down in two separate gulps, and your tension relaxes somewhat.

A handful of guards do not make an army. Likely inside this rock is some troglodytic palace where dwells their Menos lord and most of its cohort. You need an approach.

[ ]Approach openly. You of all people know that raiding villages and murdering dozens does not mean one cannot be a polite and organized ruler who receives envoys gladly.
-[ ]Present yourself as an emissary of lord Aizen, ruler of Las Noches.
-[ ]Present yourself as a wandering Arrancar, looking for shelter and perhaps a powerful master.
[ ]Attack immediately. This number of Hollows are no match for you, and if you dispatch them quickly you can break into the rock before any defenders can muster up a response.
[ ]Infiltrate covertly. Use stealth and misdirection to get inside the rock undetected, and do your best to remain unnoticed as you make your way inside.

Adhoc vote count started by Omicron on Apr 11, 2017 at 4:04 PM, finished with 595 posts and 33 votes.

25 people have voted
[X]Infiltrate covertly. Use stealth and misdirection to get inside the rock undetected, and do your best to remain unnoticed as you make your way inside.
- Thriceboiled
- Blood of Gaea
- Avalon Du Lac
- tri2
- Zhade
- Chehrazad
- Extract
- Dragontrapper
- TheShadow16
- Sivizt
- The Meddler
- IncognitoPotato
- Vozen
- Wang and HuHu
- Walker Of Chaos
- PsyFarrow
- Ephemeral_Dreamer
- darkoda
- Speed53066
- Floom
- Lexica
- Marla
- Viva01
- Lealope
- ObsidianWings
3 people have voted
[X]Approach openly. You of all people know that raiding villages and murdering dozens does not mean one cannot be a polite and organized ruler who receives envoys gladly.
3 people have voted
[X]Attack immediately. This number of Hollows are no match for you, and if you dispatch them quickly you can break into the rock before any defenders can muster up a response.
- D-san
- Gamefreak1ed
- Qoel
2 people have voted
-[X]Present yourself as a wandering Arrancar, looking for shelter and perhaps a powerful master.
- typeterra
- ChildishChimera
1 people have voted
[X] approach openly
- Changeofheart
1 people have voted
[X] wandering arrancar
- Changeofheart
1 people have voted
-[X]Present yourself as an emissary of lord Aizen, ruler of Las Noches.
- Varano
1 people have voted
[x]Infiltrate covertly.
- XkaliburRage

Now You Feel Like Number None [Bleach Arrancar Quest]

Now You Feel Like Number None [Bleach Arrancar Quest] [Complete]

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Omicron

"I already have dragons, I do not want men."

Omicron

"I already have dragons, I do not want men."

Omicron

"I already have dragons, I do not want men."

Omicron

"I already have dragons, I do not want men."

NonSequtur

a body

Omicron

"I already have dragons, I do not want men."

Omicron

"I already have dragons, I do not want men."

Tempera

NonSequtur

a body

Omicron

"I already have dragons, I do not want men."

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