SOLO THE MAD, WEILDER OF THE BLACK BOOK
BASICS
Name: Mugen Kuzunoha
Age: 24
Faction:
Solo works with each of Japan's organizations. His network spreads far and wide. He maintains a policy of neutrality with all gangs.
Role: Information Broker
Solo has an extensive network of loyal contacts that he's been building since he was younger. Solo's contacts give him eyes and ears that reach all around Japan. His valuable information leads many to seek his aid. although Solo himself is a decent fighter, his true power lies in knowledge and information. He is one of the top information brokers in Japan, and because of this indispensable to the country's gangs. His loft/main office is located in Osaka. He prefers that place because its position as a neutral zone of sorts.
APPEARANCE
Complexion:
Solo's healthy skin is a light brown color. It's smooth to the touch, and there isn't a wrinkle or blemish to be seen. His hands are always manicured, put the palms are rough to the touch.
Body Type:
Very thin and athletic. His body is toned, but there isn't much muscle to speak of.
Height and Weight:
Solo comes in at 6'3", and weighs about 140 lbs.
Distinguishing marks:
This is the big one ladies and gentlemen. Solo has a couple things on his body that separate him from most. For starters, underneath Young Kuzunoha's right eye is a small beauty mark, his mom had one in the same place. But here's the real kicker. Starting at his collar bone, the entire left side of Solo's body is covered in tattooed text. These words that cover his body are excerpts from the fabled Black Book. These intricate tattoos glow bright with magical energy when a spell is cast.
Apparent Temperament:
Solo's posture can be very paradoxical. He always seems relaxed and smooth. A cool aura radiates from the man. At the same time, Solo will occasionally break into a skip or twirl on his way down the street. His aloof demeanor persists into the most chaotic and solemnest of times. His face is always accompanied by a perpetual smirk.
Hair and eyes:
His dark brown hair is buzz cut. Solo's eyes are a pair of burgundy colored orbs.
Facial features:
A tiny beauty mark underneath his right eye, and stubble on his chin lend some uniqueness to Solo's oval face. Both of his ears are pierced. At both lobes, two black bead-like earrings lie. On his left side, two more hoop earrings can be found along his cartilage.
Wardrobe:
Young Kuzunoha's wardrobe ranges from business casual, to painfully hipster. A typical outfit for him consists of a white tank top, his favorite light black waist length jacket, dark pants and a pair of white loafers and a white leather belt. Let's not forget the yellow and red flannel that hangs from his waist--that manages to add some flair. There are a number of accessories that Solo never leaves the office without.
The first is his black hat (see photo). It is adorned with two pins on the right side of the brim. One yellow one with a smiley face, and one pink one with the word BANG! written in blue across the face. Solo keeps a silver necklace around his neck. At the end of the chain is a silver ring. Judging by how protective he is over it, Kuzunoha is obviously very attached to the trinket. Two leather wristbands are around his right wrist and, finally, on both middle fingers two silver 'X' shaped rings cover the length of the finger.
PERSONALITY
Solo's one whimsical, crude son of a bitch. From the get go, one will notice one thing: Solo's better than you, and he knows it. Arrogant as hell, he likes when things go his way and simply can't stand to come in second to ANYBODY. He has a strong sense of self, and values his individuality of anything else. Solo sees people as ants in his ant farm: they're there for his enjoyment. If they're boring, whats the point of them living? He's a ruthless fellow who won't hesitate to deck you if he deems it necessary. That said, to those he has warmed up to, Solo is extremely loyal. If you've earned his trust, he will protect you to the ends of the earth--you're his possession now--and he always takes care of his things.
On the surface he might come off as a thug, with his curt method of speech and all those tattoos, but in reality, Solo's quite the scholar. The young man is sharp as hell with his wit, he also has an interest in classical literature and poetry. Extremely well read, Young Kuzunoha trumps the mind of the laymen. He is as ambitious as he is greedy. Once he sets his sights on something he won't stop until he obtains it; be it a woman, man, money, or status, he won't stop until it belongs to him. Solo's a master manipulator. He's good at stacking the odds in his favor. If Solo has one flaw [aside from the monumental ego, short temper, and all around rudeness] , its the unhealthy obsessions he can develop. Solo places beauty in high regard. Be it a woman, man, building, whatever, if they do not match his warped ideal of the word, he will want to make it match--even if the original piece is destroyed in the process.
It should be noted that Solo is an atheist in the sense of being absent of religion. He practices no particular faith. That said, he is a firm believer in Gods.
Speech:
Sounds like your typical Steve Blum voice
Solo's method of speech changes based on the situation. Normally, he speaks in a mixture of crude, vulgar curses and articulate poetic prose. Other times he can be sly and silky smooth. One thing is constant though, he's hardly ever respectful.
Pet Peeves:
- People who don't realize his greatness.
- Idiots
- Boring people
- When people call purple a color, its VIOLET!
- Odd numbers
- Being under another's authority.
- Those who mess with his subordinates.
- When people call him by his government name. First or last. Honorifics other than -Sama piss him off too.
Favorite color
For the most part, Solo likes all colors. His favorite though would have to be white. Why? It contains all colors.
EQUIPMENT
Specialty:
- Solo is very nimble.
- He's able to think quick on his feet and adapt to the situation at hand.
- Solo's very knowledgeable in the field of mythology so he knows quite a bit about the more...mystical folks, specifically what they can do in a fight.
- His sheer arrogance and will to live can help him weather physical, and psychological shit storms.
- Knowledge on magic and the arcane
Fighting Style:
Although Solo knows basic swordsmanship, his main style is self taught. Inspired by the Drunken Fist, and several dance styles, Solo's invented his own style. Hand springs, back flips, somersaults, you name it, Young Kuzunoha will do whatever it takes to win the battle. This technique though has its share of weaknesses. Its his own style, sure, but its broken, and easily exploited. Its biggest strength is in its unpredictability and mobility.
Weaknesses:
- His temper. If his rage is ignited, he will lose all sense self control and throw strategy out the window.
- Arrogance. He'll often underestimate his foes, and take the battle too lightly leaving himself open.
- His fighting style, though erratic and unpredictable is full of openings. If exploited he can be effectively crippled.
- He isn't physically strong. He lacks the raw power to handle tougher foes. If the Book can't handle it, he gets the hell out of dodge.
- His phobia of dirt and excessive disarray.
Preferred Weaponry: One handed swords, knives, or any other bladed weapon. Let's not forget that good ol' Black Book.
Inventory:
- His cellphone.
- A pair of white earphones to go with the cell.
- An engraved switchblade that reads: Kuzunoha on the blade.
- A healthy sum of money [garnered from deals, blackmails, etc.]
- A bag of M&Ms
- Hand sanitizer
- A pair of black gloves to keep the germs away
And...
THE BLACK BOOK
The fabled Grimoire Of Destruction crafted by Lord Alistair in ancient times. It's been said that The Black Book is responsible for the fall and rise of numerous nations [does Rome ring a bell?]. Men who wield the book have graced the pages of history [Ever hear of Grigori Rasputin, Adolf Hitler, or George Washington?] and become Gods in their own right. The story story of how Solo came into possession of this book is a grand tale--that will not be detailed here [wouldn't you rather wait to find out?] The Black Book literally has a mind of its own. Able to float around and even speak on its own. The book also has a proper name. It calls itself 'Merlin' and speaks with a thick, snarky english accent. It's a arrogant prick--just like its current owner.
Now after all this build up I'm sure you're dying to know just what the book does...and my friend...it's time that you learned.
Merlin is the Grimoire Of Destruction. The name should be all you need to know about its abilities. Grimoire Merlin grants Solo a level of magical power on par with the strongest of Yokai--if he ever learns how to use it properly. Learning the secrets of the Black Book takes time, and there are countless secrets of the book that he has yet to learn. These are the abilities that he knows thus far.
- Aegis - A basic, but useful maneuver. The tattoos on Solo's arm fly off his arm and take the shape of whatever he desires. A blade, an arm, a tentacle, a shield for defense, whatever. The tattoos size is only as large as the half of his body that they originally cover. Nothing more.
The Black Book is a source of constant mystery for Solo, and to this day he works tirelessly to unearth the secrets this tome holds. The tattoos on his arm are enough for battle, he keeps the actual book stashed away in his office.
LIFE
Hobbies:
- Dancing
- Beating, maiming, slicing, killing--its therapeutic for him.
- Listening to extremely loud music [classical, jazz, and hip-hop are among his favorites]
- Video Games [specifically ones with morale meters]
- Information Gathering
- Participating in rap battles [His Emcee name is White Flame]
- Reading [specifically ancient texts and classic literature]
- Women, Men, and very specific Yokai [Oni and Tengu disgust him.]
- Fucking ish up. [people, gangs, golf games]
Likes:
- Literature, Poems
- Beauty
- People
- Knowledgeable or creative people
- Old tomes and artifacts
- Clint Eastwood Flicks & Star Wars
- Cheeseburgers--so long as there is a perfect ratio of lettuce to cheese to patty to tomato.
[*] Marijuana, Hallucinogens
[*] Himself
[*] Booze
[*] Candy--blue M&Ms to be specific
[/list]
Dislikes:
- Odd Numbers
- Unappealing, Uninspiring things
- Filth
- Nature [He cannot stand the wilderness]
- Health Food [especially sugar free drinks]
- People who can't hold his interest
- Those who don't make the most of their abilities
- When people refuse his advances
Fears:
- Losing his sense of self or values
- Not fulfilling his ambitions
- Being defeated [in anything]
- Dying
- Being forgotten
- Betrayal
- The Wild Dogs' Alpha. Specifically because he knows almost NOTHING about this being.
- Those stronger than him
- Water. His best friend may be a Kappa, but simply the thought of being submerged in a bathtub terrifies him.
Agenda:
Solo's biggest fear is death. In an effort to try and escape this ultimate fate he has immersed himself in research. His information network is really just another tool in realizing this goal. As he works towards his goal, Solo's thirst for knowledge grows greater. What started as a quest for immortality has now shifted to a hunt to know all. Solo wants to obtain every single bit of information in the world.
Where they hail from: Okinawa
Relations:
- Walker
Formerly a champion sumo wrestler [despite any lack of notable girth on his body], Kappa Walker met his match in the ring against Ravager-a blood thirsty Oni. Ravager left Walker paralyzed from the waist down, effectively ending the Kappa's career. Poverty stricken, and without any family to lean on, he found himself living on the streets. That was when he met Solo. It was just like the legends. The water in his head had dried up, and without any means to refill it, Walker thought it was the end. At that same time, some sleezy looking thug threw three guys on their ass down the dark ally that the Kappa had made his home. That thug was sipping on fresh, cool bottle of crisp agua. The thug was Solo. He saw the pitiful looking thing and refilled his bowl. Reanimated, Solo told Walker one thing. "You're with me now, you're like an investment, got it? Watch my back, and I'll watch yours. Simple." Walker had no objections. When Young Kuzunoha realized the Kappa was paralyzed, he immediately commissioned the finest wheelchair to be crafted. - Dan
Solo's oldest companion, and quite possibly his biggest handful. Dan is an Oni. Big, blue, and the biggest wuss you'll ever meet. Despite having the massive build, and explosive strength common to his race, Dan fails in every aspect of physical combat imaginable. He runs slow, can barely jump, and lacks the capacity to even build enough rage in his soul to make a fist. Yes, Dan is...lackluster. That said, the gentle oni packs one hell of a big heart, and an incredibly creative soul. Dan's passion is singing, and his dream is to become Japan's first big Oni enka singer. His lyrics invigorate the soul. It should be noted that Dan is the only Oni to date that Solo can even stand to look at. - Yumi Kuzunoha
Solo's mother. A retired enka singer, has-been, and rising reality television star. Yumi Kuzunoha is the female embodiment of her son--minus the violent streak.
She thinks herself the center of the universe , hates not being in the spotlight , and thinks people live to please her. Her selfish ways lead to the end of her marriage with Ryotaro. She now stars in her own reality tv show--and always barges in on her oh so interesting son and his affairs. She currently lives in Osaka around the same area as Solo. - Ryotaro Kuzunoha
A former high-ranking member of the Kyubei Federation, and avid scholar, Ryotaro taught his children that physical strength was only as strong as one's mental strength. Though Solo and his father constantly butt-heads [he hated authority ever since he was little] , even today, he respects him, and never passes up the chance to share a drink with him. Though he doesn't necessarily work for the Yakuza today, the oldest Kuzunoha male still supports the group. He simultaneously considers his ex-wife the bane of his existence, and someone he needs to take care of. - Yuzu and Yukiko Kuzunoha
Solo's younger twin sisters. First years in high-school. The rambunctious duo stays in Okinawa with their father--and boy do they give him hell. They may be even more vicious and violent than their big brother. - King Lear - An adorable bundle of white fur. The cat was a stray his sisters found. Due to their father's cat allergy, they had to pass him on to someone they could trust. And that was Solo. Besides Walker and Dan, King Lear is the madman's greatest confidant.
Notable Experiences:
Born as Mugen Kuzunoha, Solo The Mad grew up in Okinawa. He was as much of a bastard as he was then as he is now. Fighting, gangs, he was in it all. Teachers and students alike shrieked in terror when the boy's named popped up on their class list. Those same parties were often amazed when that same potty mouthed, hot tempered child always topped the class list in academics. In class, starting in middle school, Mugen signed all of his papers 'SOLO!' in big, bold letters. No surname to speak of. The name stuck.
Solo's obsession with humanity can be traced to the day his grandfather died from cancer. He was a strong, healthy man of sixty, but the disease swooped in and killed him with ease. That shook the boy. For the first time he saw how fragile and unpredictable human lives were. It terrified and intrigued him all at the same time. That was during his first year of high school. He secretly started to envy Yokai and the long lives they lived.
Graduation from High School came, and the Young Kuzunoha was left wondering what was next. Unlike his father, Solo had no interest in joining th,e Mafia. It took his father twenty years to rise through the ranks of the Kyubei. He had no interest in wasting so many years doing the same. Four long years in college did not appeal to him either. After all, a human life only lasts for so long. The idea to travel dawned on him. It was a spur of the moment thing, but it was an idea that spoke to him. Solo grabbed his bestfriend Dan, an Oni, and set out.
In the duo's travels they spun many tales. Allies were made, foes were battled, treasures were found. Why the tales of Solo and Dan were a modern incarnation of classic fiction. It was like Huck Finn, minus the southern racism and raft.
These travels around Japan sowed the seeds of Solo's Network. His list of contacts exploded during this two year journey. When Solo and Dan's journey came to a close he began work on putting this Network together. In this age, the man with the gun can easily be defeated by the man who knows about said gun. Information was a lucrative market, and the advantage it all gave him wasn't bad either. At first, only small groups and individuals came to him. But as time went on, and word of his information's success rate spread his list of clientele grew in number, and status.
It didn't take long before the three biggest families came seeking his aid. And his aid they did receive.
There's many stories left to tell about Solo. Like the origins of 'The Mad', or how he got his hands on that devilish Black Book, or his whirlwind romance with a Satori that ended in broken bones and heartbreak. On both ends. But those are all for another time, and better told by the man himself.
Good things come to those who wait...right?