Morning everyone!
Over the past few days I've been looking at the Mikiri Clan, the Hidden Cloud's users of Dark Release, and I would love to expand upon them. They have a lot of character hidden within their signature techniques, but lack a lot of substance in both the background/lore, and have no supporting techniques available to players outside of Dark Release. But! What if that is the purpose, that there is something hidden?
The Clan itself is described as maintaining a tradition of isolation, even within the Hidden Cloud. To the public at large, the Clan is simply there, but very little is known about them. This got me thinking: What does the dark do? The dark conceals things[cet, consumes them. People aren't afraid of the dark, but rather what hides in the dark. Stealth, secrecy, information-control, these are all things associated with darkness.The Mikiri snuff out the light.
Proposed addition:
However the Darkness hides many things-- secrets that should never see the Light. The Mikiri Clan lets the village, even the Raikage, see what it wants them to see; secrets within secrets. The control of information is so strict, and well-maintained, that clansmen know what they need to know, and nothing more; kept in the dark by its own internal mechanisms. Its even believed that the origin of the clan, birthed by experimentation, is nothing more than a ruse.
The Clan exists in layers, operating within plain sight. On the surface is what the public sees, a close-knit clan in the heart of the village. Within this, is the secrecy that the Hidden Cloud suspects, and deeper is the clandestine heart of the Clan, hidden from even its kinsmen . Across the Land of Lightning, the Mikiri have designed a cunning network of spies, operatives, smugglers, and more. The clan provides the Land of Lightning with a number of services, from espionage and counterintelligence, to assassinations, and thievery. Every move is meticulously calculated, clients and agents kept on a tight "need-to-know" basis. When the Mikiri Clan is involved in the Land of Lightning's affairs, there are no loose ends.
In the beginning, the Mikiri Clan joined the Hidden Cloud at the behest of the Inazuma, its founding clan. Yet every action the Clan takes is for a singular purpose, and there was no better way to protect itself than by embracing the Raikage. Long has the village suspected, but never proven, that the Mikiri Clan is far more complex than the public has been led to believe. Being let into the village, given access to abundant resources, and room to thrive, was by far the greatest opportunity the clan has been given. While the Clan operates in the shadows, it pays its debt to the Raikage back in full-- peddling in information, surveillance, and the unerring subterfuge. Perhaps their true bloodline isn't the Dark Release, but rather what lurks within the dark.
Proposed Addition:
As detailed, the Clan's intelligence apparatus divides the clan internally. All Clansmen are born with the diamond-patterned mark on their body, yet none are told how to use it. To the common shinobi, it could be nothing more than a tattoo. They are told from a young age to protect themselves, to keep the Mark safe, but never told why-- or how. As children they maintain their parent's strict isolationist policy-- rarely, if ever, venturing beyond the Hidden Cloud's walls. As Clansmen grow into Shinobi, the Clan's unfathomable network begins to drip information: clues here and there, breadcrumbs to piece things together. They become curious, hungry even, voraciously so for more knowledge.
And the Mikiri keep it that way, always dangling a promise for more, yet withholding the complete picture. Clansmen are tracked, their abilities quantified and calculated, then nominated for parcels of information. The Mikiri are judged for their intelligence, deception, all of it cloak-and-dagger style. Many go their entire Shinobi career without ever glimpsing the Dark Release, only a scarce few learn how to access it, and even fewer have fully mastered it without tremendous sacrifice.
The Bloodline:
The Mikiri Clan is described in the original clan profile as being ideal for clandestine missions, being naturally reclusive and isolationist; overly protective of their bloodline. But the best way to protect your bloodline, is to publicly deny having a bloodline, to blend in with the rest of society, and maneuver your Shinobi in such a way that protects your clan. The Clan's "clandestine" nature is truly about self-preservation, and as they've grown more adept at secrecy, and controlling information, it has become a powerful shadow-organization within the Hidden Cloud.
My thinking here goes like this:
Neutral techniques employ classic shinobi deception.
Information, in all forms is transmitted through energy: Lightning Release.
The Clan operates in the shadows, making itself abstract and formless: Yin Release.
The Clan conceals its true nature, manipulating and consuming: Dark Release.
Lightning Release: The Clan does not specialize in traditional thunder-and-lightning attacks, with dramatic movements. They are subtle, using electricity and energy to control the pace of a situation. Through energy they transmit information (e.g morse, flashes, communications), using it to scramble devices (radios, cameras, etc.), twist thoughts, and incapacitate. The Clan is also adept at using Lightning to transmit, and control the flow of energy. Think: Electricity is all around you now, as you read this, transmitting information, and used for subtle things that are rarely noticed
Yin Release: Dark, formless, and obscure. Just the way the Clan wants it all to be: in the shadows, hidden. The Clan employs Yin Release to hide, to scour thoughts and erase evidence. Just as Yin Release governs Genjutsu, the Mikiri's mastery allows them to shroud themselves in its ephemeral nature. They use Yin Release for information control; erasing it, twisting perceptions, and walking the boundary between truth and lies. The Mikiri's unique Yin Release techniques can directly impact Perception, Intelligence, and Coordination.
Dark Release: An element defined by its ability to consume, manipulate, and release others. Dark Release is the element that swallows and subsumes. Tightly guarded by the Clan's vast counterintelligence, few have seen it firsthand. It is defined by Inhaling Maw, a technique that consumes others, Judgement: a technique that releases chakra, and the fabled Chimera: an insidious technique that many consider.... unnatural. Mastering the element simply cannot be done without considerable sacrifice.
Over the past few days I've been looking at the Mikiri Clan, the Hidden Cloud's users of Dark Release, and I would love to expand upon them. They have a lot of character hidden within their signature techniques, but lack a lot of substance in both the background/lore, and have no supporting techniques available to players outside of Dark Release. But! What if that is the purpose, that there is something hidden?
The Clan itself is described as maintaining a tradition of isolation, even within the Hidden Cloud. To the public at large, the Clan is simply there, but very little is known about them. This got me thinking: What does the dark do? The dark conceals things[cet, consumes them. People aren't afraid of the dark, but rather what hides in the dark. Stealth, secrecy, information-control, these are all things associated with darkness.The Mikiri snuff out the light.
__________________________________
The Mikiri Clan is relatively new on the scene compared to many of the other clans. Their kekkei genkai was the result of Juinjutsu applied and meddled with their physiology roughly a century ago. The Mikiri have a long history of keeping to themselves and functioning as low level protectors for the small villages across the Land of Lightning. The clan's power has been tempered by the fact that they prefer to be reclusive and as such they have stayed out of the fray from many major battles. They fear their coveted abilities may make them the target of other major shinobi clans and as such they have historically shied away from wars of conquest and glory. However in the years leading up to the founding of Kumogakure, the Inazuma had convinced their clan leader to join the village. Not wishing to disrespect or make an enemy out of the Lightning Country's mightiest clan, the Mikiri accepted. The clan is now poised to make a bold entrance into the shinobi world writ large, a world that is largely unaware of their powerful abilities.
Proposed addition:
However the Darkness hides many things-- secrets that should never see the Light. The Mikiri Clan lets the village, even the Raikage, see what it wants them to see; secrets within secrets. The control of information is so strict, and well-maintained, that clansmen know what they need to know, and nothing more; kept in the dark by its own internal mechanisms. Its even believed that the origin of the clan, birthed by experimentation, is nothing more than a ruse.
The Clan exists in layers, operating within plain sight. On the surface is what the public sees, a close-knit clan in the heart of the village. Within this, is the secrecy that the Hidden Cloud suspects, and deeper is the clandestine heart of the Clan, hidden from even its kinsmen . Across the Land of Lightning, the Mikiri have designed a cunning network of spies, operatives, smugglers, and more. The clan provides the Land of Lightning with a number of services, from espionage and counterintelligence, to assassinations, and thievery. Every move is meticulously calculated, clients and agents kept on a tight "need-to-know" basis. When the Mikiri Clan is involved in the Land of Lightning's affairs, there are no loose ends.
In the beginning, the Mikiri Clan joined the Hidden Cloud at the behest of the Inazuma, its founding clan. Yet every action the Clan takes is for a singular purpose, and there was no better way to protect itself than by embracing the Raikage. Long has the village suspected, but never proven, that the Mikiri Clan is far more complex than the public has been led to believe. Being let into the village, given access to abundant resources, and room to thrive, was by far the greatest opportunity the clan has been given. While the Clan operates in the shadows, it pays its debt to the Raikage back in full-- peddling in information, surveillance, and the unerring subterfuge. Perhaps their true bloodline isn't the Dark Release, but rather what lurks within the dark.
The Mikiri tend to have silver hair and dark eyes with a medium build. The clan is new and has not taken on any strong customs or traditions. They tend to prefer solitude and avoid drawing attention to themselves. Many have been told to fear the world outside of the Lightning Country as their unique advanced element may prove too much of a temptation to unscrupulous doctors. Mikiri are said to be a humble people who enjoy service but are fiercely protective of their family and kekkei genkai. Their reclusive and quiet nature make them ideal candidates for clandestine missions.
Proposed Addition:
As detailed, the Clan's intelligence apparatus divides the clan internally. All Clansmen are born with the diamond-patterned mark on their body, yet none are told how to use it. To the common shinobi, it could be nothing more than a tattoo. They are told from a young age to protect themselves, to keep the Mark safe, but never told why-- or how. As children they maintain their parent's strict isolationist policy-- rarely, if ever, venturing beyond the Hidden Cloud's walls. As Clansmen grow into Shinobi, the Clan's unfathomable network begins to drip information: clues here and there, breadcrumbs to piece things together. They become curious, hungry even, voraciously so for more knowledge.
And the Mikiri keep it that way, always dangling a promise for more, yet withholding the complete picture. Clansmen are tracked, their abilities quantified and calculated, then nominated for parcels of information. The Mikiri are judged for their intelligence, deception, all of it cloak-and-dagger style. Many go their entire Shinobi career without ever glimpsing the Dark Release, only a scarce few learn how to access it, and even fewer have fully mastered it without tremendous sacrifice.
___________________________________
The Bloodline:
The Mikiri Clan is described in the original clan profile as being ideal for clandestine missions, being naturally reclusive and isolationist; overly protective of their bloodline. But the best way to protect your bloodline, is to publicly deny having a bloodline, to blend in with the rest of society, and maneuver your Shinobi in such a way that protects your clan. The Clan's "clandestine" nature is truly about self-preservation, and as they've grown more adept at secrecy, and controlling information, it has become a powerful shadow-organization within the Hidden Cloud.
My thinking here goes like this:
Neutral techniques employ classic shinobi deception.
Information, in all forms is transmitted through energy: Lightning Release.
The Clan operates in the shadows, making itself abstract and formless: Yin Release.
The Clan conceals its true nature, manipulating and consuming: Dark Release.
Lightning Release: The Clan does not specialize in traditional thunder-and-lightning attacks, with dramatic movements. They are subtle, using electricity and energy to control the pace of a situation. Through energy they transmit information (e.g morse, flashes, communications), using it to scramble devices (radios, cameras, etc.), twist thoughts, and incapacitate. The Clan is also adept at using Lightning to transmit, and control the flow of energy. Think: Electricity is all around you now, as you read this, transmitting information, and used for subtle things that are rarely noticed
Yin Release: Dark, formless, and obscure. Just the way the Clan wants it all to be: in the shadows, hidden. The Clan employs Yin Release to hide, to scour thoughts and erase evidence. Just as Yin Release governs Genjutsu, the Mikiri's mastery allows them to shroud themselves in its ephemeral nature. They use Yin Release for information control; erasing it, twisting perceptions, and walking the boundary between truth and lies. The Mikiri's unique Yin Release techniques can directly impact Perception, Intelligence, and Coordination.
Dark Release: An element defined by its ability to consume, manipulate, and release others. Dark Release is the element that swallows and subsumes. Tightly guarded by the Clan's vast counterintelligence, few have seen it firsthand. It is defined by Inhaling Maw, a technique that consumes others, Judgement: a technique that releases chakra, and the fabled Chimera: an insidious technique that many consider.... unnatural. Mastering the element simply cannot be done without considerable sacrifice.