Opening File: Semblance

Semblance is the manifestation of one's innate and personal power as an ability unique to each individual, with the effects varying greatly from user to user. The nature of one's Semblance is noted as representing an aspect of their character. However, a person's Semblance can be similar to the Semblances of their parents or other family members. For instance, the Uno Family Semblance, the Flame is hereditary.

Semblance is a more tangible projection of one's Aura and is divided into five different types:

Alteration (no we are not calling it Aural so for the eighth time stop adding that to the suggestion box!): Adds properties to Aura. (Example: Rolf – Call of the Wild, Nazz – Solar Absorption)

Conjuration: Creating something, whether it be material like a construct, or mental like illusions and hallucinations. (Example: Ed – Manifestation, Abigail Lincoln – Void of Presence, Omnimon – Omni Force, Scaramouche – Killer Orchestra, May Kanker – Camouflage, Black Velvet – Blackest Night, Candy Chie - Reprint)

Conversion: Transforms an element into aura or aura into an element. (Example: Nigel Uno – Frostfire, Monty Uno – Flame, Marceline – Sound Manipulation, Jonny 2/4 – Wood Manipulation, False Elementals)

Physical: Enhances, adds or alters physical capabilities.(Example – Wallabee Beatles – Combat Boost, Scotty Blake – Kinetic Enhancement, Amy Rose – Gravity Punch, May Kanker – Pain Negation, Fredrick 'Fred' Jones – Bull Rush, Tina Matthews - Enhancement)

Psychic: Enhances, adds or alters mental capabilities. (Example: Stan Pines – Conman's Suggestion, Billiam Milliam – Gold Manipulation, Genki Sanban – Brave Heart, Kuki Sanban – Danger Negation, Lee Kanker – Third Eye)

In addition to knowing the types it is also important to know the purpose of each Semblance's effect:

Offensive: the purpose in which a Semblance is focused on attack.

Defensive: the purpose in which a Semblance is focused on defense.

Utility: the purpose in which a Semblance is either a mix offense or defense or neither.

Next is the Evolution of a Semblance is determined by a Level, starting at Level 1 and ending at Level 10, which describes the details and limits of the Semblance no matter the Level. As a Semblance evolves it is placed in a higher Level while taking note of the Semblance's improved performance.

In addition, a Hunter must also remember the Limitations of their Semblance, aside from the obvious limit being that continued use of a Semblance drains Aura.

Next is the Application when a Hunter considers how to use their Semblance in any situation. One example would be relying on a Semblance that produced cold temperature in the middle of a location with high temperature such as a desert.

And finally there is option of Dust being combined with a Semblance known as the Semblance Dust Enhancement.

All these are important for a Hunter to remember when being registered.

Close File

Xxx

"When you have a demanding a lot of physical work you always need to stay in shape. The only way to do that is through a steady but effective training regimen. Keep at least an hour of exercise a day and you'd be surprised how healthy you will turn out to be." TOM lectured as the file closed. "Spend an hour jogging, lifting weights do some squats and sit ups and who knows you might be end being the lead in the next best action film."

Xxx

"So this is the place."

"Yep."

"Creeped out?"

"I've seen worse." Raven was actually being truthful as she stared at the ruins of what was known as the Kingdom of Gilead from a nearby cliff. "Still, I sense something…very wrong with this place."

And it wasn't just because of the evil winds blowing across the landscape. The sky was dark and not because it was night time and gave the ruined city a sort of ominous feel. The surrounding land was an endless desert with sandstorms off in the distance that were powerful enough to be mistaken as a hurricane.

She looked at some nearby outer boulders and saw a scarlet eye painted on them with a message. "All Hail the Crimson King."

"A Fallen and a very powerful one that was killed at the end of the Second Great War." Extor answered Raven's unasked question. "It was he who engineered Gilead's destruction and legend has it that he created an army of undead soldiers called Kuvian Night Soldiers to guard Gilead, now named Discordia."

"And somehow Rino was able to sneak in." Keanu spoke up. "Probably used his Semblance to sneak in."

"His Semblance?" Raven asked.

"Rino's the stealth one on this team. His Semblance: Castle of Glass allows him to pass through any reflective surface and come out anywhere else nearby that also has a reflective surface. Such as a mirror somewhere inside those ruins." Scotty pointed at the city. "Hopefully it helped him slip past all the undead warriors too. He's probably going to try to sneak into the tomb of Arthur Eld, the second last king before Gilead's fall."

"Legend has it that Arthur Eld is the one and only King Arthur who held the original Excalibur despite evidence of that the Arthur of Britain was the one and only true wielder of the legendary sword." Extor noted.

"So how do we get in?" Keanu asked. "Rino's the one we relied on for sneaking into anywhere. How do we sneak in after him? Why couldn't Scotty portal us in?"

"Maybe because the point of us being stealthy is so those Kuvian Soldiers don't find out where here. The portals made by the Celtic magic of my sword would give us away in a heartbeat." Scotty explained sourly. "And we can't try a frontal attack either. The four of us are tough but we'd be outmatched by an entire army."

"Agreed." Extor nodded. "I could take the time to develop a cloaking device for the four of us but Rino will be long gone by the time I would be done. Dead or alive."

"I think I can manage." Raven said, gathering her magic around the team, forming into a black magical projection of her namesake and then vanished into the ground.

Xxx

As it turned around Raven had brought them much deeper inside Discordia than they could have hoped. She had slipped them past any armed sentries and brought directly into the castle.

"Impressive." Extor said once Raven had brought them in what appeared to be the entrance to the inner sanctum. "You brought us to what appears to be the castle interior."

"I couldn't take us in any deeper." Raven admitted, stepping forward. "There is some kind of…mystic force that's guarding the catacombs."

"That would be exactly where to find Rino." Scotty grunted. "Guess we'll need to sneak into the catacombs where the treasure will be hiding."

"Well first off, we can't just walk-" Extor started but stopped as he watched Scotty raise his fist. "Oh no."

SMASH!

The door was knocked down by Scotty's one fist. "Come on. Let's go. Keanu, cover us."

Da Samurai nodded as they started walking and though it was subtle Raven could sense waves of pulses radiating off of him and spreading out past the group and into the surrounding walls.

"So you noticed it?" Extor quietly asked Raven who nodded. "That would be his Semblance: Ultrasound at work."

"Ultrasound? You mean like how bats and porpoises locate their prey and obstacles?" Raven asked.

Extor nodded. "Keanu's Semblance is an Alteration type, converting his Aura into a series of pulses like an ultrasound to detect anything around him in the surrounding area. This is how Team SEKR worked in our previous missions: Scotty is the muscle, I am the scientist and the coordinator, Keanu is our team radar and Rino is the stealth expert."

Xxx

As Team SEK, plus Raven entered the compound on the other side of the castle there was a flash of light and a man stood there, holding up a suitcase that emitted a laser that burned a hole quietly through the door.

Xxx

"You can tell by the writing on the walls here that Gilead prized itself on its warriors." Extor noted, programming his goggles to record the markings. "It is said that the people of Gilead trained its soldiers to be strong enough to fight and kill even the Fallen."

Scotty stopped by an unlit torch and used a match to light it. Instantly the entire hallway lit up as the torches blazed with fire.

Xxx

The intruder came into a similar hallway and used a blowtorch to the wall torches.

Xxx

"Laser grid." Da Samurai simply said as they came into another hallway. "No way we can sneak over or under it."

"Then we reflect it." Extor said, pulling out a circular mirror from his lab coat and threw it.

The mirror split into a dozen smaller mirrors that reflected the lasers and allowed the team to slip through.

Xxx

The intruder gripped his suitcase to the ceiling and rode along over the laser grid.

Xxx

"Any idea where we are now?" Raven asked as they came into a room with a spire in the center.

"Well, first we should-" Scotty started but stopped as Da Samurai suddenly pulled him back. "What are you-" The small bridge Scotty had previously been standing on suddenly broke and fell into the abyss. "…Oh, thanks."

Raven conjured a black disk to transport the team over the abyss and stopped at the next door.

Xxx

The intruder grappled over to the door, having just avoided falling into the abyss when the small bridge beneath him broke off.

Xxx

After several minutes of traveling through the maze and traveling down some stairs the group came into a hallway with a large door. Along the walls were twelve animal statues and behind them were tapestries of knights wearing armor that were themed after the animal statues.

"These have to be the twelve animal guardians of Gilead." Extor noted. "It is said they each blessed a single knight with their own powers to protect the king."

Raven stopped by the statue of the turtle and saw Latin writing underneath made of dried blood. "Rest in peace Maturin the Turtle who died choking on a galaxy."

"Maturin the Turtle." Extor walked up to the statue. "From what I remember of Gilead's history, the Turtle was symbolized as a force of creation. Whenever it came out of its shell, it was because it had a stomach ache leading it to vomit out an entire universe."

"A…turtle." Raven deadpanned. "Threw up the entire universe…and choked on a galaxy?"

"It's no weirder than its enemy: the Spider." Extor defended. "While the Turtle vomits out life, the Spider eats it."

"So a turtle that vomits and a spider that eats vomit…why am I suddenly hoping I don't need to learn more than I need about these guardians?" Raven asked.

Scotty pushed open the large doors, allowing the group to enter the tomb of King Arthur Eld. It was large and decorated with tapestries.

"And now we come onto the deities that the people of Gilead worshiped." Extor said, stopping at the tapestry of a dark tower. "Gan, the chief god who takes the form of a dark tower that stands in the center of all creation."

He then pointed to the tapestry of a red rose. "Bessa, wife of Gan and the patroness of riddling contests and gamblers."

Next was a giant buffalo. "Buffalo Star who offers his body to those who are starving and his fur coat to give people warmth."

Next was a woman in golden armor. "Chloe, the goddess who fortifies souls on their way to the afterlife."

Next was a man dressed in Middle Eastern garbs. "S'Mana who restores harmony in souls."

Next was an old man carrying a stick with a lantern attached to it. "Nis, a god of wisdom and divine inspiration. If a soul is lost in the land of sleep where he dwells he will help the soul return to the body."

Next was a young blond haired woman wearing a dress made of leave and a crown made of fruit and flowers. "The Queen Green O'Days, the patroness of lambs, chicks, calves, foals, kids and is the protector of new growth and young children."

And finally it ended with a man dressed in an orange tunic with wings on his feet. "And Raf, the god of speed and agility."

As Raven listened she sensed a wave of spiritual energy flowing from each tapestry, informing her that it was extremely likely these deities were real, as she followed the group into the center of the room where a giant stone sarcophagus resided. On the four sides of the sarcophagus was a message.

Whoever disturbs this sarcophagus shall face the undead wrath of Arthur Eld.

-So sayeth his firstborn son Los the Crimson King

On the sarcophagus rested a golden crown and from it Raven could sense dark magic.

Extreme dark magic.

"Looks like Rino hasn't made it yet." Da Samurai remarked, grinning as he looked at the crown. "Oh well, finders keepers."

Before Raven could say anything a voice stopped him. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. You're liable to vaporize your hands."

The team spun around, spotting the fifth intruder at the door. Raven raised an eyebrow, assuming this was Rino. He wore a white suit with black cuffs, a black dress shirt and a white tie, black dress shoes, red hair underneath a white hat and a red beard and a tooth pick was sticking out of his mouth.

"Rino!" Scotty narrowed his eyes. "What took you so long?"

"Funny you should ask." Rino snapped his fingers as he walked in. "I didn't think I'd be having competition to the crown of Arthur Eld."

"So you're not after the sword." Extor noted.

"Sword doesn't have any gems or jewels attached to it." Rino said with a cocky grin, somehow reminding Raven of Red X and his annoying traits. "And what, might I ask, are you all here for? And who's the kid?"

"Ack, same business as usual with yah then, Rino." Scotty crossed his arms. "We're going after a secret lab in the middle of nowhere with all sorts of types up to no good, and you're going to be helping us with that."

Rino let out a genuine laugh. "Uh, yeah, I don't know how much you remember, Scotty, but I ain't a hunter. Even if I joined a team I only worked with you because I owed you a big favor."

"Ye still do."

Rino's smile fell. "And the kid?"

"Raven." Raven said sharply.

"Ooh, her name starts with an R too!" Rino chuckled. "Well then you don't need me, you already have Team SEKR back together with a cute little mascot."

Raven exhaled slowly and walked up to Rino, lifted one hand to her hood…and when she pulled it back the three members of Team SEKR behind her cringed at the inhuman shriek that filled the room while shadows of eldritch creatures danced on the walls all around before she raised her hood back up. Rino, while looking a little perturbed by the demonstration, kept his composure. "Nice effects kid, but just so you know: I've crawled into holes with things ten times as frightening."

"Doubt it." Raven replied. "Let me guess: mummies, draugr and reanimated statues serving as vessels for undead spirits who take offence to you breaking into their resting place to steal the things their loved ones buried them with."

"Don't forget the occasional Grimm, especially the big mummy ones!" Rino added. "A lot scarier than the average mummy."

"Color me not impressed." Raven drawled. "You put on a good act, but I've seen your type before. You're a dog chasing a fire truck without any idea what you'd do if you ever caught up to it, just going from pillaging one tomb to another. What we're offering is a chance for you to actually do something that matters. But if you're content to just line your pockets and move on to the next tomb then perhaps this was a wasted trip."

Rino frowned. "Well Scotty, where'd you pick this one up?"

"Say you'll help us and you'll find out." Scotty replied.

"Listen, as much as you can try to scare me or inspire me, I have a contract to bring this crown back to a very wealthy and very influential person who will send a very well supplied army of assassins after me if I don't." Rino stepped past Raven. "So if you don't mind…" He reached out towards the crown only to find his arm ensnared in a manacle of black magic which spun him around.

"Don't touch that." Raven said.

"Easy kiddo, lemme guess: the spells on this old thing?" Rino jabbed a thumb at it. "Got it covered."

"It's not that." Raven turned about fully. "Every other member of Team SEKR that I've met has had some quality that makes them admirable, or redeems them for any shortcomings they have…but you're just a grave robber, and this is one tomb that I won't stand by and allow you to desecrate."

Rino sighed. "…alright then. Five minutes, kiddo. That's all the time I've got to play."

He shattered the black magic manacle with a swipe of his suit case, which sprouted a multitude of blades that blazed with fire Dust. Then he formed it into a machine gun and dropped into a crouched pose, unleashing a hail of bullets on Raven's position as she cast a shield up in front of her.

"Got a lot of power behind you, don't you?" Rino reformed his case into a larger cannon shape. "Let's see how well it holds up to this."

The next projectile shattered Raven's shield, exploding into…sigils which glowed bright green as they attached to Raven, snaking along her limbs even as she tried to swat them away. When she next tried to summon her magic she felt the sigils flare up…and explode, throwing up a cloud of dust where she stood.

"Raven!" Extor made to intervene only to be pulled back. "Scotty, Rino's going to kill her!"

"He's not that cold." Scotty shook his head. "Besides…I think the wee girl might get through to him better than you or I could."

Rino, believing his enemy neutralized, straightened out his hat and lowered his case back to his side. "Power's good and all, but if you rely on your fancy magic tricks you make yourself predictable." He turned to continue on to the crown again…only to see a disc of black form in front of him.

Raven leapt up out of it, delivering an uppercut that knocked Rino back. He recovered and back flipped, catching his hat after it was sent tumbling up through the air by the surprise attack.

"Take your own advice." Raven replied…holding up Rino's case.

"Hm?" Rino looked down to see he was holding just the handle of his case now, the rest of it torn away. "Well now, this just got interesting."

He tossed the handle aside. "Okay kiddo, you've got my attention. For you, I'll make it six minutes."

Reaching into his coat, he pulled out a number of knives and began to fling them at Raven, who tossed the brief case high into the air and deflected the blades, sending them off in all directions…including upwards. It was only when one passed close to her head that she realized something about the knives…their blades were not made of steel, but some reflective material.

Her eyes widened just before Rino's fist seemed to emerge from the knife in mid-flight, striking her hard enough to fling her down onto her back.

"Hello again." He greeted mockingly, holding up one hand to catch the case as it fell. "Let's see you do that twice."

Without waiting for a response he split the case into two separate pieces, forming into twin pistols. Raven took to the air to avoid his barrage, noting how each bullet erupted into some slowly expanding blob of purple gelatinous material where it hit. She quickly formed a barrier to fend off any shots that came too close, but the added mass put strain on her spell as she tried to compensate with each impact.

This left her ill prepared for when Rino stepped out of another of the knives that she had, in her carelessness, spread across the room and shoot her in the back three times. The blobs quickly grew, covering her upper-back and expanding across her arms, restricting her movements as she gathered energy to break free.

"Azerath Metrion-" She felt something strike her in the back again before a familiar line of sigils snaked its way across her form.

This time the explosion, powered by Raven's attempt to conjure a more powerful spell through her signature incantation, was three times as large as the original. When it cleared Raven lay on her side, burnt and bruised but alive and free of the gelatinous blobs. Rino could see clearly that she was down for the count and recombined the twin pistols into their original form.

"Thought as much. You magical types might be able to wave spells around with one hand, but to get the real juicy ones out there you need an incantation to guide your power." He smirked and tilted his hat down by the brim. "Thanks for confirming that theory, kiddo. You put up a good fight, almost thought you had me after you got my case too, but-"

"Rino." Scotty interrupted.

"Aw relax Scotty, I didn't hurt your precious stray." Rino assured the scotsman, who drew his claymore and pointed it past him…to the tomb of Arthur Eld.

Where the crown, disturbed by the second explosion, had fallen off and clattered to the floor.

"…aw Golb." Rino groaned.

Xxx

Name: Keanu Grier

Alias: Da Samurai

Aura: Purple with golden highlights

Semblance: Ultrasound

Description: Keanu produced ultrasound with his Aura, allowing him to detect virtually anything up to a five mile radius.

Type: Conversion

Weapon: Mama

Description: A Katana

()

Name: Rino

Alias: The Thief

Aura: A mix of White, Grey and Black

Semblance: Castle of Glass

Description: Rino can use any reflective surface as portal to reach other locations and even use them as a method of attacking his opponents.

Type: Conversion

Weapon: Suitcase

Description: Rino's suitcase is his signature tool and weapon. It can grip to and ride along walls, turn into a moped and an aquatic propulsion system for swimming quickly, and conceals tools such as a machine gun, a flashlight, and a blowtorch. It is also bulletproof.