Character
Kijin Shihaku
Race: Human
Age: 23
Sex: Male
Sexuality: Demisexual
Relationship: Unpartnered
Height: 5'8"
Build: Toned, on the smaller side.
Player
Thom
Nationality: American
Age: 19
Sex: Male
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Relationship: Unpartnered
Height: 5'8"
Build: Lanky, bookish, withdrawn.
Personality
Visibly driven by no particular goals, Kijin only ever seems to fit into the category of Merc. He holds no strong ties to any political organization or entity, and has no designs on gaining power. Unlike so many other players in Terrasphere, the experience is enough for him, and jobs generally offer a chance for him to explore it in greater depth.
He tries to keep others at a distance, treating relationships with other players as an inconvenience at worst, and strictly business when unavoidable.
So, why does he prefer the role of Tank, protecting other players?
Positive: Observant, Quick Thinker, Charismatic.
Negative: Reclusive, Prideful, Self-righteous.
Biography
As far as player characters go, Kijin is something of an Enigma. He can hold his own in social situations and even take the helm when necessary, but he prefers to stand to the side and let others get the glory. In truth, he was never an overachiever in the real world, and he never liked being heckled by his peers or forced to take on high expectations by adults. As a result, his gaming persona tends to float between major cities taking on jobs, quests, and hunts without ever really leaving a mark.
His real interest is seeing a world-class any world. Once, he dreamed of castles and gardens so beautiful a mere glimpse could steal his breath away- but the poverty of his family and the reality of his situation made travel to Faraway lands a distant dream. Instead, he settled for the virtual world, one where anything was possible and he could see all the things he dreamed of.
In Terrasphere, he could perform death defying feats. He could be more than he was in the real world. That was it. That was his hook.
Kijin gained some notoriety in the second season as a tank, holding Southwatch until the last brick fell. In a last ditch effort, he and Aalam pressed forward with their beleaguered troops and coordinated a defense of Eastwatch that allowed them to ultimately hold the city and avert disaster.a
Despite his contributions on the battlefield, Kijin was quick to deflect all glory to the other commanders, allowing them to rise in fame and fortune as he receded into the comfort and obscurity of the gritty underworld.
The limelight is no place for a mercenary, after all.
Season three opens with Kijin on the road again, headed for his next adventure.
Out of character, Thom is a washed out high school graduate with no aspirations for the future. His interest in the real world wanted with the crumbling of his parents marriage, after which he withdrew from society and went on to live off of a part time job at a local pharmacy.
On workdays, he can be found stocking shelves and wasting his break time meticulously plotting for his next adventure in the game. An adrenaline junkie of the highest order, the brushes with death he gets in Terrasphere have taken him closer to ecstasy than anything he's ever experienced in the real world.
If he could live in Terrasphere, he would do it in a heartbeat.
Out of Character
Played by: @Genji
Player tag: @Kijin Shihaku
(Touken Ranbu) Tsurumaru Kuninaga
(Just Because!) Izumi Eita
