Maruyama Takahiro
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Maruyama Takahiro was once known as Kwŏk In-Su before he moved to Japan to study as a Bug Master under the tutelage of Oda Hideyo. Bugs allow a Human to become gifted with a specific ability and powers over the Bugs themselves, but at the expense of lifespan. Takahiro's once dark hair has turned white and his bones have become more brittle, forcing him to rely on a cane. However he is a Bug Master and has much skill with medicine, sustaining himself for the short term. His frequent pain and dark future has led Takahiro to use opium and cannabis as recreational drugs. He attends the Schola Draíochta along with his adoptive sister Oda Yumiko-Ai and took part in the Second Invasion, siding with Mistress Procellifer.
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Species
Human
- See also: Human
Although most of the populace of Takahiro's homeworld are normal humans, they are quite susceptible to the influences of Bugs. When one attaches itself to a human, that human is doomed to a shortened life span, yet granted amazing abilities and the gift to see the Bugs themselves. Anyone infected with a Bug can pass on abilities to their children, residual Bug affects yet without the shortened lifespan. However without the influence of the Bug, the power becomes very unstable and difficult to control. Otherwise the human populace is a standard version of earthling.
Homeworld
Earth
- See also: Earth
Takahiro's homeworld is a very typical medieval Earth, yet their human populace is particularly susceptible to the affects of Bugs. However the concentration of Bugs on the planet is not especially high, the generally preferring locations with a high volume of Multiverse traffic. The affects of the Bugs on the world has been minimal, though the historical records do pay a great deal of interest on Bug Masters, often portrayed as saviours or great heroes that lead very short lives. They also speak of naturally gifted magicians, who are actually children or ancestors of Bug Masters.
Characteristics
Personality
As Takahiro is most often high on some form of drug, it is difficult to discern where the 'real' Takahiro begins and the drugged Takahiro ends. He is normally very calm and relaxed, even lethargic, whether the event be exciting or terrifying. This doesn't mean that he feels neither, but he expresses these states in very different, very calm, ways. He does have a deep sense of respect for others at his core and despite his casual nature, will normally grant any expected customs of others. He is especially respectful of those older than himself, in particular the teaching staff of the Schola Draíochta. He enjoys enjoying himself. Wining and dining is his favourite pastime, spending a lot of time at the Tea House with various entertaining girls and enjoying lavish meals even when alone. He tends to live as though the next day was his last. He believes that he has no concern for his life, yet deep down he fears it as much as any other. Yet his ailment has given him resignation to mortality and he intends to get as much out of his remaining years as possible.
Powers
- Main Article: Bug Master
Excerpt due.
Classes
Present Classes
Former Classes
Storyline
Place of Birth
Pyongyang
- Main Article: Pyongyang
During the period that Maruyama Takahiro was born, Pyongyang was not the capital of the medieval Korea, but was still considered a very important town that was the capital of a specific province of the country. However in modern times the city has become the capital for North Korea.
Early Life
Jagka
Born Kwŏk In-Su, In-Su was a fortunate young boy. He had been born to a high-ranking official of Korean politics and was never want for anything. Devoid of any real hardships, In-Su developed a highly inquisitive mind and sought out amusement in puzzles, writing, mathematics and engineering. Many believed him to be a child prodigy, "the next Zhuge Liang". He was permitted to spend much of his time alone when not being tutored. At four he had discovered an old library, a building that stored many old texts from Korea and China and regularly spent his free time reading through the old texts, though there was much of it he still couldn't accurately read despite his language lessons. One scroll he took out to read turned out to be the resting place of a Jagka Bug. Jagka is one of the rare Bugs that fuses with a human host and the young In-Su became that host. He was instantly granted the ability to see the Bugs of the world, first seeing the plentiful Konjou floating all around him. The fusion, however, took a lot of his strength and he was later found unconscious in the library after his absence was noted at home.
The local doctor was a wise man of foreign birth. Simply known as "Ji", meaning wise, the man was actually a Juncturist that normally went by the name Killian Hughes. Neither Ji nor In-Su knew that they would later meet again. Ji instantly recognised the infection of the Jagka Bug, having dealt with Bugs several times before in his long life. He informed the family that In-Su's lifespan had been significantly shortened by this infection and that his body would become increasingly weak and even decrepit as the years wore on. Ji also told them that In-Su would find he had gained many new talents that could prove dangerous for everyone else around him unless they were honed. He suggested that the family send their son to Oda Hideyo, who Ji believed was the greatest Bug Master of the age.
Japan
After an initial refusal by Oda Hideyo, the stipend for In-Su's education and care at her hands was dramatically increased as she had told them she could not afford another mouth to feed. With such a high stipend that would easily pay for In-Su and above, Hideyo had to accept the offer and the young Korean boy was shipped to Japan. He took up residence with Oda Hideyo at the Oda Hermitage.
Shortly after arriving In-Su had to adopt a Japanese name to avoid discrimination in a very xenophobic climate. His name thus became Maruyama Takahiro. Raised thenceforth by Hideyo, he was taught in the ways of Bug Masters, how to control his own Bug and the other Bugs found in the world. Jagka granted Takahiro the power of Grammomancy. Similar to wishing, Takahiro could write down his wish with the appropriate commands and the act would often come to be. Yet he was cautioned against asking for the extreme or lavish as this would take more of Takahiro's life from him. In many ways he had to sacrifice himself to use this power. Yet he was gradually deteriorating anyway, just not so fast as when he used Jagka's power. Instead he was taught to seek out other Bugs to perform tasks for him, the one ability Jagka gave him that didn't take his own life to use; Bug sight.
His relationship with Hideyo was very much master-apprentice with no motherly love between them. Instead Takahiro gained a warmed relationship with Hideyo's daughter Oda Yumiko-Ai who was twelve when Takahiro first arrived. As he grew older, becoming a proud boy, she grew more friendly and attached to him. Eventually she would come to love and adore him, yet it was an unrequited love that would never be. Oda Kamiko was the second daughter to Hideyo and closer to Takahiro's own age, yet this brought about rivalry between the two rather than affection.
The Ageing Process
Takahiro learnt about all manner of Bugs, such as the Konjou and Irikuchi and how to use them for various tasks. He also learnt that these Bugs took on different names and sometimes different guises depending on location and native language of said location. In the Valle Dei Mondi the Konjou are known as Phasms for instance. As he grew older, his relationship with Kamiko changed. She grew more affectionate and sister-like, battling with Yumiko for Takahiro's attention. She was still playful and competitive with him, but in a far more agreeable manner. Takahiro, of course, didn't understand these signs. Yet his relationship with his master had also changed. As he demonstrated himself more and more capable of manly duties, manly virtues and a competent Bug Master, she came to view him as a man, no longer a boy apprentice.
However Takahiro's appearance took a drastic change at the age of thirteen. Although he had always been physically weaker than a young boy should, and often experienced sickness, the signs of his Bug never surfaced so prominently as the moment his hair changed colour. It began to grow grey. By fifteen it was stark white. His legs also began to show signs of serious frailty. Despite all this, Takahiro held himself as 'a man of the house' and did his best to hunt for food, build and repair things and cut the wood. Hideyo, who long lamented the loss of her husband, fell in love with the young, brave man she beheld and took her one-time apprentice as a lover.
Passing the Book
Yet Hideyo knew she was wrong to take him in this way, regularly deploring herself for her own lust and affections. She recognised the jealousy of her two daughters and knew either one of them deserved to have Takahiro as theirs far more than she did. And yet she couldn't let go. So long as he was there, she knew she would keep taking him to her bed. She had to release him. She had long ago accepted him as a Bug Master, yet it was custom to only announce someone thus when they reached nineteen. He had been ready at thirteen. Fifteen was when she declared him a Master, yet she also proposed that there was much more he could still learn, especially about the art of medicine beyond the use of Bugs. She had long searched for a new master but ultimately found it beyond Earth and across the Multiverse. She had long known of other universes beyond her own thanks to the Irikuchi Bug, which opened portals to other worlds, yet she never found a use for it. Until now. She had glimpsed the vision of s grand school surrounded by beautiful green fields and cloudy mountains. She had seen the Schola Draíochta. She sent Takahiro there and later sent Yumiko after him. She intended to push them together and have Takahiro has a son-in-law, in her mind that made him unattainable.
The Schola Draíochta
The Bug Master
Takahiro used the Irikuchi Bug to open a portal to the Valle Dei Mondi where the Schola Draíochta was nestled between the town of Breja and the Portal Grounds where Takahiro had appeared. He had learnt that such worlds as Odin were hot spots for Bugs of all kinds due to the regular coming and goings of the Multiverse through the portals on the Portal Grounds. These portals were all Irikuchi Bugs, known as Ostium in the Valley, and as they gathered, so did newer and stranger peoples with all manner of voices. With all these languages and cultures in one place the Fari arrived. These Bugs feed on spoken and written language and then regurgitate it in a literal 'universal language' that all minds can understand. The mind believes it is speaking its own native tongue and the Fari will even cause the mind to believe mouths are moving in synch with the words spoken, much as the written language will appear different. The increased in people leads to the increase in Bugs, which leads to more people and then to more Bugs. The sheer level of Bugs in the Valley is what gives it its richness in magickal energy.
He explained some of this to two students that happened by and welcomed him to the Schola Draíochta. Lenus Agrona was particularly interesting to Takahiro as they shared a love for medicine and were able to discuss medicinal concepts and courses of the Schola. Esphellia Kalii Teosa was the second student and the first non-human that Takahiro met. Being an Elf she wasn't too different from humans for him to understand and relate to, her pleasant attitude and demeanour also helped to make the young Bug Master feel at home and somehow get over his sense of loss with his former Master.
Revelations
Whilst he was still relatively new to the Valley himself, Takahiro found himself welcoming two other students to the Schola. He had been smoking on the quiet fields of the Portal Grounds, where the smoke of his cannabis wouldn't offend other students, when Ana Rakael Neddle landed. She initially believed she would be transported back to her homeworld, having arrived through a deliberate, though illegal, portal jump. As Takahiro waited with her, a second student arrived. Eemi Suetton was a young Angel that also learnt of the Schola through Takahiro. Both young women were on edge over the course of Summonings & Necromancy taught at the school, Eemi for religious reasons whilst Rakael simply believed it to be an immoral practice. Takahiro tried to remain rational and give a non-biased account. He didn't take the subject but he wasn't of the mind that it was a negative practice. He eventually led them both to the school itself where they would be able to enrol. He also let Eemi know that the school did have a priest working there, Father Phemus Reginald Smite, who she would later meet.
First Somatomancy
It was Father Phemus that had to bring Takahiro into his first class. Being new to the school, Takahiro received his class list late and found up being late for what would have been his first lesson. Phemus, under direction from Mistress Procellifer, took Takahiro to Somatomancy taught by Frédéric F. Sévère to avoid disciplinary action for being late. He wasn't the only student to get his listings late as another teacher, Aislynn Ceridwen, arrived with a second student named Naomi Davenport. Takahiro had been relieved that he wasn't the only student with faulty paperwork.
Yet this first class proved to be far more dramatic than any session with his former Master. He watched as Igorias Galateus had his hand attacked by a Lasher Plant. Under threat of death by poison, Igorias cut his own hand off. Fortunately the boy had been made by stitching various body parts together to begin with and was familiar with this very process. Despite this, Takahiro had been horrified and had his eyes opened to a very dangerous and bizarre world that seemed to lurk beneath the very beautiful and mystical covering of the Valley.
Applied Cryptozoology
The first lesson of Applied Cryptozoology didn't go very well. Takahiro arrived to find a strange Fairy and a weird creature he later learnt was a Khlee. He mistook both for escaped creatures from the Menagerie, where the class was held. It soon turned out that the fairy was, in fact, the teacher and the Khlee was Eshken Dar, a student. Embarrassed, especially since he hadn't recognised Aislynn Ceridwen from her brief appearance in Somatomancy, Takahiro was very humble for the rest of the lesson. Due to all this confusion the class was over too soon, yet Takahiro did get to see a Phoenix in the Menagerie which he would hold the inspirational image of in his mind for many weeks to come.
Lisosta Xailo
Takahiro visited the town of Breja regularly, finding the halls and rooms of the Schola Draíochta too confining. He enjoyed drinking, dining and socialising. He was a regular of the Rowan Tree, where he would eat and smoke with local Brejan Dwarves and Katy's Teashop where he would eat plenty of cake and biscuits. He also visited Tenebris' Bar on occasion, where he could drink alcohol in copious amounts without reprisal. However his favourite spot was the Tea House located in China Town. Most major towns and cities in the universe seem to have an 'oriental region' and many varieties of orient existed thanks to the Multiverse and its many variations of Earth. The China Town of Breja was a strange amalgamation of various cultures, a mishmash of Asian cultures and Asian cultures from different universes both past and present! The result is a bizarre hyper-Asian region of the town. Yet it was the closest thing to 'home' as Takahiro could manage and the Tea House was a very familiar setting.
One early evening Takahiro happened to meet another student, Lisosta Xailo, who told him she felt somehow at home in China Town too. She was a Drow, an elven species similar to the one Esphellia had been. He introduced her to the Tea House where they also met Kaede Megumi. Both girls left long before he did and he instead spent his time with two geisha from the Tea House, Aiko and Airi who he would then visit regularly.
Enter the 'Hero'
The Portal Grounds was Takahiro's second favourite place to smoke, the first being the Rowan Tree. But the Portal Grounds was also good for relaxing and basking in the sunshine. He would often set up a small 'camp', consisting of logs for seats, a fire and some cooking utensils. Whilst cooking some 'Western' meats he had been introduced to, he smoked some opium and drank sake until the arrival of Astara Virgo. The boy, unlike most, arrived not of his own will and didn't know anything of the Valley or the Schola Draíochta. It turned out Astara had actually been banished. Now in exile, Takahiro suggested and eventually convinced Astara to enrol at the school. It would be a place for him to live as well as learn. This was all solidified when they began to discuss the affliction upon Astara's arm. Takahiro quickly recognised the magickal seal and saw that it was, though none of the magicians would have known, implemented by a Bug. He removed the seal, allowing Astara a degree of freedom to access some power, however Astara was still bound by much stronger magick that Takahiro couldn't identify. Thus encouraged, Astara joined the Schola and would become a friend to Takahiro. Unfortunately neither of them expected to be thrust into a war.
The Second Invasion
Prelude
Skrai, the teacher for Summonings & Necromancy, declared war and invaded the Valley, shutting down the Portal Grounds with magick and set up a war camp. Strangely Takahiro thought back to Rakael's words and wondered if she was somehow justified by her concerns over the subject. Takahiro had seen the dangerous levels of the Valley but he had never expected to see war on its green fields. The initial stages of the war were tentative as both sides seemed to test one another's resolve rather than engage in all-out battle.
Skrai had been a teacher at the school to scope it out and test its weaknesses. He turned out to be the Overlord of a vast empire called The Imperium that spanned whole galaxies across the Multiverse. What Skrai's purpose was in conquering the Valley, Takahiro didn't know. Much of the information and politics seemed to be confined to the teachers' knowledge and the students weren't told. In fact it seemed that the teachers and Brejans planned to defend the land themselves, but many students began to volunteer and their skill couldn't be denied as useful for the upcoming attack. However many had sided with Skrai, including Lisosta Xailo. Then Skrai also had his seasoned troops, whilst the Brejans had not engaged in war since the First Invasion, few of which were of the same generation today. Takahiro was quick to volunteer. He had come to accept the Valley as his home and didn't want to see it ravaged by whatever Skrai planned for it. He didn't know it then but Yumiko would later volunteer for a special mission in the war too.
Battle of Breja
One of the most significant events of the war was the Battle of Breja. Takahiro was the leader of his own unit of bowmen, able to attack at range and scout the land. However the war came to Breja itself as Skrai's army marched out and all those loyal to Procellifer had to move to defend the town. One the first day Takahiro saw very little action, retreating from conflict with the technological tanks of the Lightfirean officer Erosworn and covering ground, securing several buildings en route to the centre of Breja. He took the Imperial Breja Bank and fortified it for the night time hours when both sides would settle to defensive positions. He learnt, from a magickal conference of leaders, that Mistress Procellifer had marched out to war herself, speaking battle with Skrai personally. However she hadn't returned. This was combined with the news that Father Phemus was confirmed dead and Astara Virgo had been somehow injured by treated by Killian Hughes.
The second day opened with reinforcements from Thoth. Yet Lisosta's unit had also approached the bank. Thoth, in his musical incarnation, tried to lull the enemy with song and dance, only to be tore apart by Lisosta herself. Takahiro would never forget that sight, having once enjoyed the company of the drow he now saw the true nature of her soul. As the battle against Lisosta's unit commenced, Takahiro's unit fired arrows down on them from the bank but with the proximity of his own sides' troops they couldn't fully commit. Then Killian Hughes arrived, trying to sneak through the town with patients and doctors to the Hospital after their previous location had been burnt down by Ampersand Wolf. With them was Astara Virgo, Eemi Suetton and Gebohq, who were protecting the doctors. Astara chose to remain with the combat, fighting against Lisosta's unit. However Skrai had chosen to fire his super-weapon, which was dubbed the Blitzkrieg. The shower of bombs struck the bank, killing many and destroying much of the building. Takahiro himself was seriously injured and unable to fight. He would be joined later by Astara, who had also been injured, whilst the battle continued on outside as Jacques arrived and fought with Ralma Faustus. Takahiro was able to create a medicine that would seep into his skin, through the muscle and to his bone where it would act to repair the bone quickly. He also applied some to Astara's injuries. Although they were both now out of the war, it would soon come to an end as news of Skrai's death would reach them. Skrai had been killed in the explosion of his main camp caused by the self-sacrifice of Syth Favardin.
Requiescant In Peace
The ceremony after the war was sombre as many lamented the various deaths during the war and the headmistress herself was in woe over the death of Father Phemus. She had been rescued by the small special group which Yumiko had been a member of. Takahiro also saw the reincarnation of Thoth, a much more serious-minded version that wasn't likely to be singing and dancing any time soon. Procellifer forgave those that either deserted her or fought for Skrai, including Lisosta Xailo and Erosworn. Takahiro, however, doubted he could ever forgive Lisosta. He also saw the brilliant spacecraft, the Aeon, belonging to another traitor professor Dragão Geral de Caos leave Odin and head off to The Imperium where internal strife was beginning due to Skrai's death.
Post-War
Professional Relationship
With the Valley slowly returning to normal, Takahiro asked to help Astara with the seal placed on him again. Whilst he had taken the Bug off, it hadn't helped with Astara's true problem. Instead Takahiro now had to reapplying the Bug and the second, more significant seal, would have to be removed by the expertise of Ankita Kaur, newly having taken over Summonings & Necromancy. His role was short and easy, though Takahiro had expected more fire and brimstone. Then the experience grew dull and slow for him as Ankita had to explain the details of her work to Astara. Inviting them both to join him later, Takahiro left them to figure out the magick whilst he headed to China Town and the Tea House where he gained the companionship of Aiko and Airi again.
Astara and Ankita did then join him. Takahiro encouraged Aiko to attend Astara, first introducing them. Ankita was also happy to flirt with Takahiro herself but also revealed some of her past to the two boys, telling them the story of her freedom and how it was attained. Though she gave no names, this period of her life was linked to Lysander, headmaster of the Schola Borealis and the bounty hunter Nariakira Ki-Kinoe. She told them of Farid Singh who had wanted to marry her. She tricked him into freeing her of her lamp and then she fled before being married to him. Takahiro was enthralled by the tale and had had to make reference to his own relationship with Hideyo before Ankita would tell the whole tale. On the subject of relationships and lovers, Astara mentioned his interest in Oda Yumiko-Ai, not knowing the connection between her and Takahiro. Fortunately, Takahiro took it lightly and decided it would be a good way to but a trench between himself and her.To be Cont.
Related Characters
Player Characters & Other Major Characters
Oda Yumiko-Ai
- Main Article: Oda Yumiko-Ai
Oda Yumiko-Ai is a human female from medieval Japan on Earth. Born to the famous Bug Master, Oda Hideyo, Yumiko-Ai was born with a tether to alternate realities. From these alternate worlds come alternate versions of Yumiko herself, which are often strange versions of traditional Japanese mythological creatures, such as Tengu or Kitsune. She has no control over these other beings and they will often wrest control from her, changing her physical form to reflect their own. However Yumiko still remembers all that happens, often with a great deal of embarrassment. When not in control of Yumiko they reside in their own worlds. Yumiko has one natural sibling, Oda Kamiko, and one adoptive brother, Maruyama Takahiro, who were both also taught to control their powers by Hideyo. However in an effort to distance herself from a passionate love affair with the young Takahiro, Hideyo sent him to the Schola Draíochta and Yumiko there soon after. Hideyo hoped to blossom a relationship between her daughter and Takahiro, placing further obstacles in the path of her own passion. However once there the two barely spent any time together and Yumiko found it harder and harder to control the "alternate Yumikos".
Non-Player Characters & Associated Characters
Oda Hideyo
- Main Article: Oda Hideyo
TBA
Oda Kamiko
- Main Article: Oda Kamiko
TBA
Author Notes
- TheBritt
Takahiro was originally inspired by the film version of Mushishi in which the main character takes on a very similar role as Takahiro. The film version mistranslates the fictional creatures of Mushi as "Bugs", which brought about my use of the term. Adapted in a great fashion I created a whole new and individual system that resembles the original in name only. I decided to have Takahiro in a deteriorating state, gradually becoming worse and worse, to add a very interesting element to the character. The drug use I figured would work well with his medicinal function and the portable cabinet he carries, making a very clear and interesting image. When I first made Takahiro I already had the idea for creating Oda Yumiko-Ai, though only the bare bones.
