Name: 疫病熱波 - Ekibyou Neppa
Aliases/ Nicknames: Neppa
Age: Looks in his late 20's, though he is in his mid 30's
Seat: Captain of Squad 11
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 213 lbs
Personality: Neppa's personality has a varying quality. Most of the time is is calm and placid, though he might act snobbish to someone he considers lesser than himself. On the other hand, he will sometimes really get into fighting and will get happy and excited. He is always respectful to those of a higher rank than himself and has a fairly strong sense of justice.
Theme Song(s):
Normal: Canival - the pillows
Angry: Writhe in Pain - GGXX
Excited: Ready to Die - Andrew W.K.
Physical Description: Tall with darker skin than normal. Neppa's hair is red, but more like the colour than what hair turns out to be, and it tends to hang out over his face. He is fairly well toned, but not overly muscular. He has thin, red eyes, though they can change to be quite big when excited, conjuring a frightening image with his exceptionally long canine's. For attire, he wears a sleeveless gi, black, with the kanji 火(Hi - Fire) printed on the back in red and black hakama. Upon becoming Captain, he has received his Captain's haori, which it white and has become very tattered over his years as captain, the sleeves being lost in the process. He also has a glove on his left hand, fingerless and extending up his arm a bit, black in colour. Around his wrist, over the glove, is a chain, some 4 meters in length, which connects to his Zanpakuto, mounted on his left side, as is normally done.
With his promotion to Lieutenant of Squad 11, he received an article of clothing that he had before he died, a necklace that the members of his gang wore to signify each other. It's a simple black band with a metal plate on the front, with 正義(seigi - justice) etched into it.
After obtaining Bankai, he has obtained a tattoo on his left arm in the shape of a somewhat stylized flame retaining the normal colours of one. This is a symbol of his strength, bestowed upon him by Netsujyoubi for achieving Bankai. Since it's origin is from his Zanpakutou and is a symbol of his strength, it changes as such, growing farther and farther up his arm as his strength increases. Currently, it extends from his hand up to the middle of his upper arm.
Ekibyou Neppa - Post Bankai
Zanpakuto Name and Sealed Description: 熱情火(Netsujyoubi) - Zelous Fire. The blade is a little over a meter long, and the hand guard is solid(no holes in the side). There is also a chain extending from the end of the hilt to his left arm. He wears it on his left side, as normal.
Zanpaku-to Sword Type: Katana
Zanpaku-to Element: Fire
Zanpakuto Spirit: The spirit of his Zapakuto is that of the Salamander, the mythical fire-eating lizard. The picture of him belittles him quite a bit, but Neppa seems to downsize him when he manifests him. When in Neppa's inner world, that of an everlasting magma field with a volcano in the 'middle', Netsujyoubi is at least twice the size of Neppa. Netsujyoubi tries to be Neppa's worst enemy, preying on Neppa's justice-complex, constantly telling him that he's worthless and accomplishes nothing. This is merely how he helps Neppa, and would act in a much different manner to another person or Zanpakutou.
Shikai: 「火をつける、熱情火」 (Hi wo tsukeru, Netsujyoubi!) Light them up, Netsujyoubi! - After calling his Zanpakuto, he draws it from it's scabbard, changing shape as it is drawn. While being drawn, sparks fly from the scabbard and sword, leaving both smoldering. The sword always seems to have smoke emanating from it. It's strange shape is meant to confuse enemies and it can act both as a sword and an axe.
Abilities
1) Smoldering(Passive) – The sword is perpetually hot, almost as hot as a sword would need to be to temper and change the blade. Because of this, it will create sparks and fire when moved in certain ways. When scraped along the ground, sparks will shoot out and the ground will be left scorched and smoking. When moved through the air in a quick fashion, the blade will ignite along the swung blade, increasing the temperature and leaving a tail of smoke behind it.
2) Smoke Screen – Neppa pumps reiatsu into his sword for the heat to use as a fuel to cause smoke. With the next swing, smoke is exuded from the sword and drifts in the direction swung. Normally he uses a bat swing, making his sword also act as a fan to make a wall of smoke. Alternatively, he'll swing his sword overhead to produce a whole cloud, mainly if he needs to escape or needs time to cast something. This move uses relatively little reiatsu, though the more used, the more smoke is made.
3) Flame Wheel – Neppa swings his sword along the ground in an upward arc while pushing reiatsu into his Zanpakuto. The fire created on the ground and the blade use it as a fuel and arc off the sword and into a wheel of fire, traveling in the direction dictated by the swing. This uses an average amount of reiatsu, but can be thrown around fairly freely. It has a maximum range of 10 meters.
Bankai:
「弱いを虐殺する、土地を被害する、末永く熱情火」 (Yowai wo gyakusatsusuru, tochi wo higaisuru, Suenagaku Netsujyoubi!) Slaughter the weak, ravage the land, Forever Burning Zealous Fire! - After saying 'Bankai', his sword immolates and he puts his arms at his sides, hands and sword outward at waist level. The fire then begins to engulf his body, burning off the kosode and haori, but leaving his hakama and gi. His clothing and hair seems to float with the heat, leaving a surreal image, especially since his eyes seem to smolder as well.
Abilities
1) Immolation(Passive) – Neppa's sword and body are engulfed in flames hot enough to melt most under crafted weapons. The flames are caused by reiatsu pouring out from his body and acting like a second skin. The heat does not effect Neppa negatively, and will cauterize most of his sustained wounds immediately. Most flame based attacks will have little to no effect as he is on fire. Because the fire is reiatsu based, all fire based Kidou are empowered and will require little to no incantation to cast. His sword will also leave a tail of fire when swung. When pushed to certain limits or when a call of justice is instigated, his fire will sometimes turn from normal red and orange to purple.
2) Blazing Weapon – Neppa controls all the reiatsu around his body to form into a second Zanpakuto and chain made of pure fire in his right hand, which has all the properties of the original. He holds his original in his left and it remains on fire. This removes the fire from around his body, as well as the benefits gained from it, but allows him to do some very complicated techniques and throws with his swords. Both Flame Wheel and Gun Flame can be used in this mode.
3) Heat Distortion – This move is similar to Smoke Screen, but rather than creating smoke, he exudes an extreme amount of heat, causing the field to become distorted from the rising heat. He can also control the distortion to make it look like he disappears or there be multiples of him. This also affects sounds, so he can make it sound like he's coming from a different direction. The more complex, the more reiatsu used.
4) Gun Flame – This move is an advance version of the Flame Wheel, though they are separate moves and can both be use in Bankai. It is activated in a similar way, though he holds his sword upside down and does an upward slash. This causes pillars of fire to shoot out of the ground in the slashed direction, three meters high, and in a straight line. It has a maximum range of ten feet. This move is stronger than Flame Wheel and takes slightly more reiatsu.
5) 台風火(Taifuubi) Flaming Typhoon – This is Neppa's signature technique. He forces all of the reiatsu flames into his sword, causing flames to spew out of the sword and the chain. He then starts to spin it over head, only holding onto the bit of chain at the end. Thusly, it causes a typhoon of fire to be created with a diameter of just about ten meters. The only safe spot is a small, 2 meter diameter circle in the middle, where Neppa stands and laughs. If one can withstand the heat, then they just need to watch out for the sword, which spins around at some 40 mph. When Neppa stops swinging, the typhoon will linger for about five minutes, slowing down till it eventually dissipates. After he uses this, he reverts to his Shikai state and must rest, or recharge with Fire Eater, which can bring him back into Bankai state. Fire Eater is the only Bankai level move that can be used after Flaming Typhoon. He can sustain the typhoon for about 15 minutes, though the longer he keeps it up, the longer he has to rest, as it's very taxing upon his body. He most commonly uses this to bring the field to his advantage, only about three minutes or so, then quickly finish off the target, as the typhoon doesn't affect him.
6) 火を食べ(Hiwotabe) Fire Eater – This is Neppa's last ditch move. This move will only work against fire based attacks, and will otherwise leave him open for attack. When a fire based attack is launched at himself, he will channel his reiatsu fire to his hands, which will let him channel an oncoming fire based attack. He will channel the attack into his mouth in which he will consume the fire. Based on the strength of the attack, it will recharge his reiatsu fire by an amount equal to the attack's. This will not work with his own techniques unless they are reflected back at him, but an allies' attack can be absorbed. After the fight is over, the fire must be expelled from his body, either from an existing orifice or possibly one could be made. The major problem is that it causes the fire to rage out through him, causing internal damage. The stronger the attack and the longer it is contained, the more damage done. A low powered fire Kidou may only singe his throat and be released through a belch, but a Bankai level technique could cause grievous wounds and even cause ruptures in the skin as the mouth, nose, and eyes can't release the energy quickly enough. Neppa only uses this move as a last ditch effort to continue fighting to win, since he could kill himself with this move.
Kidou: Know's kidou 1 - 10, 30, 31, 33, 39, 54, 61, 73, 81, 90
Bakudou: Favourites -
39. Arc Shield(円閘扇, Enkosen)
61. Six Rod Light Restraint(六杖光牢, Rokujyoukourou)
Hadou: Favourites -
31. Red Flame Cannon(赤火砲 - Shakkahou)
33. Blue Fire, Crash Down(倉火墜 - Soukatsui)
54. Abolishing Flames(肺炎, Haien)
Other: Shunpo
Skills: Neppa has studied mainly in Zanjutsu and Kidou. He is about averaged speed and only knows Aikido as a form of Hakudou, mainly because of it's relations to sword play. A general technique that he employs is that he throws his sword at his opponent, then pulls it back with the chain. This can be performed in various ways, from just throwing it in a wide arc, to spinning it by the chain for more control. He'll also use it as a tool for climbing and as a grappling hook when need be.
Bio: Before Neppa left the world of the living, he was a student at a law school. He didn't want to be there, but his parents forced him into to, being the only school they would fund him to go to. On the other side of his life, he was a member of a low key gang. They didn't hold much turf in any respect, but they were known for protecting regular people from other gangs. This was how he died, in a fight with one of the stronger gangs of the city. Neppa and his crew had brought knives to a gunfight, and ended up paying dearly for it. So with his death, he carried over his will for justice like a fire, leading him through the Shinigami Academy and to excel in the categories that he thought were best suited to serve out justice with. Now graduated, he wishes to try for either Squad 5 or Squad 13, though Squad 11 seems a possible choice, even though he would be ridiculed for using Kidou.
With raw power being one of Neppa's stronger points, even in the use of kidou, he was quickly added to the roster of Squad 11. His power paired with his fiery will to win only helped him more as he became Vice Captain. Over the years he helped to be Qastor's counterpart, being strict and enforcing the commands as Qastor made them. Slowly, they learned to get along much better, and Neppa became a little softer, at least to those in his Squad. After Qastor resigned for a desk job, Neppa was proposed to become the next Captain for Squad 11. Easily passing all the tests, he assigned Caitlyn to Vice Captain out of respect for her older brother and continued on where Qastor left off.
