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ESSENTIALS
Name: Talieh Yamada
Apparent Age: 515
True Age: 20
Sex: Female
Position: Vice-Captain, 2nd Division

Personality
Outwardly, Talieh has a chilly demeanor accented by curt and precise speech that she is more than happy to use whenever the mood to speak suits her--even if someone more wise would know that they should hold their tongue. Elitist, condescending, aloof, are all traits that define most of her public perception and, unfortunately, are mostly true to who she really is. However, perhaps unexpectedly, one of Talieh's greatest attributes is her patience and persistence in the face of these same aggravations that draw her ire on a day to day basis. This all works together to present a sort of sense of calm and control in her presence which is only barely holding back a predatory rush.

Privately, Talieh's work ethic is second to none; she vowed to herself long ago that she should never be accused of failing to get things done and woe be to anyone who might try and cross that line with her. She finishes what she starts, no exceptions. All of this relates to a personal sense of obligation; she believes strongly in her innate superiority and because of this, it is her duty to do better and be better for those around her. Lead by example, if you might, in all ways and forms.

Morally, she believes that might makes right and while others might argue that morality cannot be dictated by arms, Talieh just flashes her steel and politely disagrees. Moral laws empower the weak and restrain the strong. She is 'fine' with this philosophy for others, but her innate superiority means that she is subject to other law: the ends justify the means. She is and forever will remain, the exception.


APPEARANCE
Height: 5'10" or 178cm
Weight: 140lbs or 63kg
Physical Traits: See photo



BACKDROP
Exposition: Talieh is a Pure Soul born to a minor noble house over five-hundred years ago. One of many dozen children, she was nowhere near the the order of succession and was largely raised by older brothers and sisters and the hired help. Traditionally, her family served as house guards for the Great Noble Clan they were vassals of and also made names for themselves in the Primary Combat Squad, but Talieh was clearly cut from a different cloth very early on.

She spent her time hanging out with conniving men and women, choosing to find her thrills in the illicit activities taking place in the shadows and on the fringes of the lustrous image her older family members were so busy stoking. Although there were some dust-ups early on as she learned in her youth, Talieh discovered something fascinating: If you're good enough at it, there were almost no consequences capable of catching up to her. It's not that there were not consequences, but rather that she was just bigger, faster, stronger, smarter, and more ruthless than those that dogged her.

As she came into her own powers, more senior members of her family forced her to take up formal training and attempt to legitimize her efforts. Finding internal compromise, she has had a long and successful career as an Agent of Shadows doing many undocumented and unspeakable deeds for the betterment of society, order, and her personal ambitions.


FIGHTING STYLE
General Approach
Talieh believes first and foremost in lethal simplicity. There is no need to engage in elaborate traps or deceptions in order to arrive at a point twenty-steps down the road. A simple flash here, concealed blade there, and it can be done with in two or three. To this end she does employ a number of *simple* mechanisms to aid her efforts as a front-line, cloak-and-dagger fighter.

As an agility-based fighter it is always Talieh's preference to avoid any sort of contact except for blade-with-flesh, and when she does strike, it should be to disable, cripple, or kill. However, if she is pushed into a situation where there is nowhere to hide or the stakes simply do not allow for such indirect lethality, she will drop the carefully tended facade, let go of her masterful composure, and enthusiastically apply violence wherever it is needed.

She prefers to fight with her Zanpakutou in her primary hand and main-gauche (or parry dagger) in her off-hand, but she is also always equipped and willing to embrace full two-weapon fighting with both of her Zanpakutou.

STRENGTHS
Agility - Talieh is simply just fast, relying on her unapproachable speed to indirectly frustrate and exploit opponents.
Shunpo/Hoho - Making contact with Talien is a very rare honor.
Swordplay - As a master of the blade she understands her lethality perfectly. She knows when, where, and how to strike anyone within 20 feet of her at any given time.

WEAKNESSES
Kido - Sacrifices have to be made. While she knows much about Bakudo, her ability to inflict pain with any major practice of Kido is almost laughable. This explains why no one has ever seen her do much more than a few simple Bakudo. She relies on her mystique to keep this a secret.
Durability - Discretion is the better part of valor.
Reiatsu Manipulation - Although she is keen on hiding, she is also very proud of who she is and what she has accomplished. It's tough to hide pride.

ABILITIES
Anathema Poison
Although 'new' enemies have an element of advantage in that she knows little about them, Talieh will put what she learns to very good use. In any encounters with people she has fought before or knows well, Talieh brings an enemy-tailored poison which she chooses the form of at thread-start (breakable flask, weapon coating, etc).

One With The Shadows
Although Talieh can be sensed as easily as anyone of her Tier and Rank should be, it's difficult to get a specific read on her true strength by mere passive analysis. (If Talieh is 1-1 she would be sensed as if 2-1 outside of combat)



ZANPAKUTOU
Sealed Zanpakutou: Kannasutā is a modest katana 36 inches in length and quite simple in design. A straight, slender blade is accentuated by a black, circular hand-guard and a simple, black grip. There are no interesting features or quirks of the blade itself aside from a shobu-hi (a type of blood groove) that runs the length of the blade. The saya, although principally black, is decorated with small white and pink cherry blossoms.

Kannaduki is a Katana that is a 34-inch blade of a similarly simple design. The hand-guard is oval and the tsuba is inlaid with an intricate and symmetrical pattern set in silver. The tsuka is capped with a short, cherry blossom pink ribbon that hangs down about 6 inches.

Zanpakutou Names: Kannasutā & Kannaduki  [Godless Star & Godless Moon]
Command Phrase: "Kaminashizuki"  (lit. 'The time without gods')



SHIKAI
Name: Kaminashizuki
Appearance: Both blades begin to week a cherry-blossom pink liquid that appears thick and viscous but actually has very little mass. The liquid has the texture of oil and smells a bit of ozone. The length and appearance of the blades does not otherwise change aside from the appearance of this liquid.
Abilities: All attacks while her Shikai is released become anesthetic, applying a poison that causes loss of physical sensation that eventually results in unconsciousness. First contact may feel like a boon as your body ignores the pain that was just caused and you forget about your wounds. But limbs become sluggish and without the reminder of pain you are unable to favor muscles and bones that might need tending, over-exerting yourself to the point your body begins to break down from the strain. Or, without enough time, the anesthesia coursing through your veins simply puts you to sleep, bringing unconsciousness and an end to combat. Each successive hit progresses the condition and "Resets" the timer.

One dose: 1 Bala worth of "damage" delivered internally every round for 3 rounds.
Two doses: 1 Cero worth of "damage" delivered internally every round for 3 rounds.
Three doses: 1 Gran Ray Cero worth of "damage" delivered internally every round for 5 rounds.
Four doses: Unconsciousness sets in at end of your next post.


BANKAI

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TOUKAI
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Approved 1-5