Date Masamune

[That Bastard]

Name: Date Masamune
Nickname: One-Eyed Dragon, Dokuganryu
Age: 27 (September 5, 1567)
Gender: Male
Birthplace: Yonezawa, Tsubasa, Ransei
Family: Date Teremune (Father; Deceased), Yoshihime (Mother; Deceased), Date Kojiro (Younger Brother; Deceased), Date Shigezane (Cousin; Deceased)

Trainer Orientation: Chaotic Good
Trainer Class: Warlord of Oshu
Starter Pokémon: Rufflet

Character Theme:
Masamune Date's Theme (Sengoku Basara 3: Samurai Heroes)

Six Swords:
Jeremy Soule — The One They Fear (The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)

Theme of the Date Army:
Linked Horizon — Guren no Yumiya (Attack on Titan)

Big Boss of Oshu, Moving Out!:
Babymetal — Pa Pa Ya!!

Braviary [Male] — Put ya guns on.
Masamune's first Pokémon, given by his father as a Rufflet in recognition of the first campaign he participated in. The known bravery of the final form of Rufflet was a match, his father had said, for the young Masamune's own bravery. Through the years and its evolutionary phases, Braviary has remained steadfastly-loyal to Masamune, looking after the brash warlord in the same way that Katakura Kojuro does.
—Received in Oshu.

Ability: Sheer Force
Move Pool: Hone Claws, Aerial Ace, Defog, Tailwind, Crush Claw, Air Slash, Super Power, Brave Bird, Sky Drop, Hyper Beam

Scizor [Male] — Just try it.
Captured as a Scyther on the plains of Echigo during a cross-border skirmish, and later given a metal coat and traded to and from Kojuro to induce evolution, Scizor has been a potent member of Masamune's team ever since. Focused and proud, Scizor's game is power, increasing his own damage potential before getting in close to the enemy and staying close to discourage them from using fire attacks to take advantage of its weakness.
—Captured in Echigo Province.

Ability: Technician
Move Pool: Bullet Punch, Fury Cutter, Focus Energy, Metal Claw, False Swipe, X-Scissor, Feint, Iron Head, Swords Dance, Double Hit

Salamence [Male] - Your pathetic parlor tricks won't work on me!
Salamence is the heavy assaulter of Masamune's team, using its area-effect moves to devastate large numbers of enemy forces at once. Foes who try to close in are treated to a vast array of powerful physical and elemental attacks, and often find themselves stymied by Salamence's trollish tendency to use Substitute.
—Captured in Dragon's Den.

Ability: Intimidate
Move Pool: Dragon Tail, Dragon Claw, Dragonbreath, Fire Fang, Thunder Fang, Crunch, Focus Energy, Hyper Beam, Incinerate, Substitute

As a daimyo on the field of battle, Masamune always stood out. For protection from sword, spear, and bullet, he wore a silvered breastplate that bore the emblem of his clan, along with traditional haidate thigh guards and han kote forearm bracers. Along with the non-traditional breastplate, he favored European-styled boots/shin guards for leg protection. Over his armor he wore an overcoat of blue coloration, matching the armor and clothing of his ensemble. His most recognizable implements were his black, traditional kabuto helmet with its crescent moon emblem, and the eyepatch that covered his missing right eye, itself bearing his clan emblem.

Off the battlefields, his attire varied depending on whatever he was doing, but for ease of use and comfort, he typically wore a traditional hakama in black and gi in dark blue, and no headgear. In this environment, he typically only carried a single sword.

Artwork from Sengoku Basara.

Masamune carefully crafted a reputation for himself as a reckless firebrand with a chronic backstabbing disorder. While he does indeed fight with wild abandon, he was also a shrewd strategist. He didn't typically engage in crafting the piles upon piles of gambits as such other famous daimyo preferred to do--most often leaving the greater strategy up to his most trusted retainer, Kojuro--but he had a knack for always having a way out of any situation.

Despite his firebrand exterior, Masamune was capable of exceptional loyalty, never betraying those who had not first betrayed him. He was also a patron of the arts, and well-known for his ethics, openly inviting foreigners and allowing Christian missionaries to preach in his lands. He sought to acquire foreign technology, including firearms, and dreamed of expanding Ransei into a world power. He funded and launched the only far-reaching diplomatic and trading mission with other world powers in his era, and corresponded frequently with the Pope.

At a young age, smallpox robbed Masamune of the sight in his right eye. Sources differ on how he came to lose the organ entirely; some say that he plucked it out himself when family retainers pointed out an enemy could take advantage of his blindness in a fight, and others say he had his most trusted retainer, Katakura Kojuro, gouge it out for him. Because of his missing eye, his mother declared him unfit to lead the family and began to favor his younger brother.

This did nothing to deter the wishes of his father. At age 14, Masamune took part in his first campaign, assisting his father against the Soma clan. Three years later, his father elected to retire as clan head and appointed Masamune as his successor. When this occurred, a trusted family retainer, Ouchi Sadatsuna, defected to the Ashina clan. Because of this, Masamune began to lead campaigns against the surrounding lands.

Shocked by his ruthlessness, Hatakeyama clan invited Teremune to dinner to discuss Masamune's actions. When Teremune informed them that he had no control over his son's antics, the Hatakeyama kidnapped Teremune in an act of desperation and attempted to flee with him. Masamune, who had been out hunting at the time, pursued and swiftly caught up with the kidnappers as they neared a river. Teremune ordered his son and his men to open fire and kill all of the enemy, even at the cost of his own life. Heartbroken, Masamune gave the order and all of the kidnappers, and his own father, were killed. In response, he pursued the conquest with renewed vigor, hunting down and murdering the families of his father's kidnappers.

Meanwhile, his relationship with his mother continued to deteriorate, as she continually insisted that he surrender leadership of the clan to his younger brother. Unimpressed, and upon discovering a plot to poison him at a dinner, he swiftly turned and killed his own brother to prevent any other such dissent. After this, his mother fled to her brother's home, the Mogami clan.

With the task of securing the Tsubasa province, thereafter referred to as Oshu, complete, Masamune turned his attention outward to the goings-on in the greater Ransei region, setting his sights on unifying the land under the Date banner. He was, unfortunately, a bit of a late starter. Most of central Ransei had fallen under the control of Oda Nobunaga, a man as renowned for his ruthlessness as for his battle prowess. Despite this, Masamune was one of several daimyo who decided to push for the capital and make his bid for control of Ransei. This brought him into conflict with the Takeda and Uesugi armies, and during a mixed battle between all three forces, the Oda Army interceded and routed all three groups.

Realizing the vast power of the Oda, the Date Army entered into an Anti-Oda Alliance with the Takeda, Uesugi, and several other lesser groups, including the remnants of the Azai. Spearheaded by Masamune, Kojuro, and Sanada Yukimura, the Anti-Oda Alliance became a major thorn in Nobunaga's side. Eventually, the warfare culminated in a surprise assault on Nobunaga himself, encamped at Honno-ji temple. Masamune and Yukimura, leading the attack, were met by Akechi Mitsuhide and Oichi no Kata. Rather than stall them for Nobunaga, however, the two Oda generals revealed that Nobunaga had been possessed by a great, evil entity for most of the time he had been leading his conquest of Ransei.

It just so happened that on that very night, Nobunaga planned to sacrifice the majority of his army, spread to the far corners of Ransei, to flood the land with such a degree of suffering and malice that it would allow this 'Darkness' to gain entry into the world of the living. Akechi and Oichi would not condone that slaughter, and offered to join with the Anti-Oda Alliance to strike a decisive blow.

The battle was joined, the four warlords against the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven. Alongside them, the Kyoto Shinmei-ryū likewise rose up against Nobunaga. The battle's ferocity turned Kyoto into a sea of flame, and despite being so outnumbered by powerful adversaries, Nobunaga fought them to a draw with alarming ease. Fortunately, the exertion required to fight the four daimyo was enough to allow Nobunaga to break free of the Darkness' possession and regain control of himself. At the last, he cast all four of them out of the temple and bade his retainer seal the gates and set fire to the temple.

The true history of the Incident at Honno-ji went with the four warlords to their graves. Akechi would go on to assume the blame for Nobunaga's death and subsequently perish at the hands of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Masamune retired to Oshu to recover and consolidate his lands, eventually becoming a vassal first to the Toyotomi, and then the Tokugawa. Despite being viewed with suspicion by many, Masamune was only ever loyal, not the least reason for which was knowing that his was among the hands that had felled Nobunaga. For his loyalty, he was awarded the lands surrounding Sendai, which he developed from a small fishing village to a prosperous city. Content with the relative peace of the Tokugawa shogunate, Masamune served as daimyo of Sendai until his death in 1636.

Martial Abilities______________________________________
└-Weapon specializations and fighting styles.

Firearms: Like Oda Nobunaga, Masamune recognized the growing importance of technological advancements such as firearms, and was famed for his Date Rifle Corps. For his personal use, Masamune generally wielded one or two flintlock pistols either alone or in conjunction with his swords. Stories tell that, despite it being flintlock weapons, that Masamune could attack continually with the pistols without ever seeming to need to reload. In actuality, this was him channeling his Elemental attribute through the weapons; he never used actual projectiles. In the modern day, he wields a pair of Colt M1911s.

│
├─Classification: Physical
├─Category: Weapon Proficiency
└─Power Level: Expert

Swordsmanship (Katana): Befitting a samurai living in the age of the Warring States, Masamune was proficient in the use of the katana. However, unique to himself, he developed the dexterity and strength required to wield anywhere between one and six swords at any given time and still fight without sacrificing any speed or strength.

│
├─Classification: Physical
├─Category: Weapon Proficiency
└─Power Level: Expert

Elemental Abilities____________________________________
└-Powers from a mastered Dragon Plate.

Death Fang: This is a one-handed technique that requires three swords held in one hand. A devastating physical strike that can knock enemies into the air and juggle already-airborne foes. Based on the move [Dragon Claw].

│
├─Classification: Elemental
├─Category: Physical
└─Power Level: Expert

Crazy Storm: This is a two-handed technique that requires two swords in both hands. A multi-hit combo attack using the swords in both hands. Based on the move [Outrage].

│
├─Classification: Elemental
├─Category: Physical
└─Power Level: Expert

Jet-X: This requires the use of all six swords. A brutal forward cross slash. Based on the move [Dual Chop].

│
├─Classification: Elemental
├─Category: Physical
└─Power Level: Expert

Phantom Dive: Masamune does a horizontal sweep, then leaps and slams the ground, causing an electrical shockwave that goes forward. Based on the move [Dragon Rush].

│
├─Classification: Elemental
├─Category: Physical
└─Power Level: Expert

War Dance: A passive support technique. Masamune draws all six swords and charges himself with Elemental power, immensely increasing his attack speed and power. Based on the move [Dragon Dance].

│
├─Classification: Elemental
├─Category: Status
└─Power Level: Expert

Dragon Sight: As a free action, Masamune may select an allied individual within 10 meters of him and activate this power, granting the ally the status Right Eye of the Dragon while Masamune gains the status Left Eye of the Dragon. As long as the ally remains within 10 meters of Masamune, both characters receive a boost to damage and speed. Based on the moves [Dragon Dance] and [Baton Pass]. Note: Kotomi Katakura is always considered to be under the effect of Dragon Sight whenever she is on the field with Masamune, regardless of distance. Within 10 meters of Masamune, Kotomi's Right Eye of the Dragon effect doubles her attack power and speed.

│
├─Classification: Elemental
├─Category: Special, Status
└─Power Level: Expert

Jumping Jack Breaker: A combination finisher from [Crazy Storm] and [Death Fang], Jumping Jack Breaker can only be used on an airborne foe. After knocking the foe aloft, Masamune briefly sheathes all of his swords to supercharge them with Dragon energy, then hurls five of them into the sky, where they form a large glowing image of the Date clan mon upon which the target is held pinned. Masamune then makes an aerial attack with his remaining sword, resulting in a powerful explosion on contact. He is not harmed by this explosion. Based on the moves [Dragon Breath] and [Dragon Hammer].

│
├─Classification: Elemental
├─Category: Physical
└─Power Level: Expert

Ultima Sword: Taking high into the skies, Masamune summons the power of Dragons and rains meteors upon the battlefield. Only they're swords. And they're as large as a city bus. Should any foes survive this rain of heavy, pointy things, Masamune will make his own diving attack with the largest of the swords at his disposal. This attack does not discriminate friend from foe, and thus cannot be used willy-nilly. Historically, this technique has only been envisioned, and never actually performed. Can only be used while under the effect of [King of Dragons].

│
├─Classification: Elemental
├─Category: Physical
└─Power Level: Expert

King of Dragons: Every other thread, Masamune imbues himself with the full power of the Dragon element. When this ability is active, wings of blue dragon fire--braced by the ethereal swords of light--give him the effect of unfettered flight. His armor shifts into a medium plate that has inspired modern dragoon armor. This is Masamune's version of the keystone Dragon power [Dragonblooded].

│
├─Classification: Elemental
├─Category: Status
└─Power Level: Expert

The world now was amazingly different than how it had been when last he had strode the fields of Oshu. Or, well, it wasn't even really Oshu anymore. It was called Tohoku now. At least Sendai was still Sendai, although the city had grown and prospered far more than even he had anticipated when he had first established it as his headquarters in his allotted territory. A recent earthquake and tsunami had done tremendous damage to the city, the scars still visible in some places, but the city had recovered and thrived, a sight that filled the One-Eyed Dragon with pride.

There'd been an interesting response from the local government when they'd been able to prove beyond any shadow of a doubt that he was who he was. The city council had offered to immediately give him the position of city council head, in effect returning him to the same position of power he'd held previously. He'd declined that invitation, citing that he was far too out of touch with the modern world for the time to even consider it, and he would not allow the city he had lead to prosperity be disserviced in such a manner. The city council had judged his words to be wise indeed, but had said they would leave the offer open should he reconsider.

It was almost strange that he was revered and almost worshipped as a hero of legend in Sendai. It was similar, in a way, to the near-reverence with which the Date Army had treated him during the Sengoku period. That was to be expected though; they were his retainers and he was their daimyo. But in this modern era where every man was free to choose his own path in life, he was the proverbial fish out of water, a relic of a bygone time. That was why he felt it so strange the way these people treated him.

They had even gone so far as to offer him residence in the modern Sendai castle, after of course having profusely apologized for the difference between the castle now and the one he had originally built due to being damaged in World War II. He'd planned to turn down the offer, but given how these people revered him and how he'd already rejected their offer of power in the city, he felt that turning them down a second time would insult their generosity. To that end, he had agreed to allow them to set him up in a small living area on the grounds of the castle, away from the regular areas popular with tourists, that still gave him a commanding view down from Mt. Aoba overlooking Sendai itself.

It was there, in a courtyard hidden away from curious eyes by the arrangement of the surrounding buildings, that Masamune Date, former lord of Oshu, spent much of his time, seated in the shade of a sakura tree and contemplating the ways of the new world. To any who looked from a distance, it would appear that he spent all that time sitting motionless, perhaps meditating on the differences between his era and this one.

But anyone who actually came close enough to see what he was doing would see that all that time 'meditating' was really tapping away at an iPad, perusing that strange system of tubes and absorbing all the information he came across about the modern day.