Gorōzaemon
Big-Shield Guardian
Samurai Niwa Nagahide (a.k.a. Gorōzaemon, 五郎左衛門, 丹羽 長秀)
Summary:
A samurai previously of the Toyotomi Clan who moved to the Hashinara alongside his good friend Shōemon. Gorōzaemon is a towering man with a brusque demeanor who fights with a giant sword and shield, focusing on defense while he prepares for a powerful blow. His personality mirrors his fighting style, and all but his closest friends (just Shōemon) find him to be taciturn and blunt. He has thus had a hard time fitting in with the generals at Wakigami Castle, but the samurai guards who patrol the castle have taken him as something of a mentor, and he spends much of his free time training with them. According to those he teaches, Gorōzaemon's distant attitude just makes him that much cooler. Beyond this pursuit of training, he quite enjoys making necklaces from beads and shells. He and Shōemon have a matching pair.Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Gorōzaemon is in excellent physical condition, well muscled and with very little if any body fat. He takes great pains to maintain this top physical form as a samurai, devoting several hours each morning to training.
Body Features
Tall, broad-shouldered, and wielding packed muscle underneath rough, bronzed skin. Gorōzaemon's skin is crisscrossed with scars and other reminders of past battles.
Facial Features
Gorōzaemon's blunt features and perpetual scowl lead many to believe that he's constantly in a state bordering on rage. In reality, this is just how he always looks. A smile rarely breaks that granite countenance unless he's with Shōemon.
Identifying Characteristics
Aura: Vibrant Blue
Blood Type: AB
Apparel & Accessories
Usually battle-ready, unless given some particular reason not to be. Gorōzaemon normally armors only his lower body and one of his arms, preferring to use his mighty shield to defend his bare chest and other arm. This heavy instrument is always at hand, strapped to his back alongside a large nodachi. Hanging at his hip, a samurai's daishō shows obvious signs of disuse, but he keeps it on him for appearances and emergencies.
A few beaded cords hang from various pieces of his armor, and a necklace woven with sea shells around his neck. Shōemon wears a matching piece.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Niwa Nagahide, later Gorōzaemon was born into a minor retainer family under the Oda Clan. As such, he served Oda Nobunaga from an early age and rose to become a senior official in her military. Eventually he was transferred to the service of Hashiba Hideyoshi, and there met Shōemon, with whom he formed a powerful bond of friendship. When Hideyoshi's rebellion was put down and Shōemon transferred to serving the Hashinara Clan, it was natural for Gorōzaemon to go with her.
Since then, he has participated in a number of conflicts as a general of the Hashinara, both independently and as a member of Maximum Force, but has yet to achieve the same recognition as he once had in the Oda.
Gender Identity
Identifies and presents as masculine.
Sexuality
Has shown little interest in anyone, male or female, since joining the Hashinara Clan. Presumably heterosexual.
Education
Trained as a samurai, including proficiency in leadership and discipline, but lacks any grounding in the arts.
Intellectual Characteristics
Of average intelligence and unremarkable mental character.
Morality & Philosophy
Gorōzaemon values loyalty above all else, but whom that loyalty is to fluctuates over time. First he was bonded to Oda Nobunaga, but eventually came to value his relationship to Shōemon more strongly. In the moment, he will fight fiercely for whomever he has been tasked to defend, but his ultimate dedication is to his friend.
Personality Characteristics
Likes & Dislikes
Likes Shōemon, training, and accessories with sentimental value.
Dislikes dull situations and people who talk too much.
Social
Contacts & Relations
Previously served the Oda Clan and the Hashiba Revolution.
Family Ties
Parents are deceased, no other direct relatives.
Religious Views
Not affiliated with any major religion, and refuses to speak on it when asked.
Speech
Very taciturn, rarely speaks unless spoken to or in intense situations.
Relationships
History
The bond between Gorōzaemon and Shōemon is something he values more than almost anything else.
History
Gorōzaemon was moved under Lord Maxim's command along with Shōemon, but had only a professional relationship with his commander during their short-lived acquaintance.
Combat Role:
Gorōzaemon is a defensive fighter who focuses on tanking attacks for several turns before retaliating with extreme prejudice. Ideally, he will block with his shield and/or attack with his katana for three turns while building up power with Yuuse Battojutsu and accumulating Ki. Then, on the third turn, he will unsheathe his nodachi and combine the bonuses from Yuuse Battojutsu and Devastate for a series of powerful attacks. If the battle is not finished by that point, he can switch weapons at no penalty and continue fighting as before.Ki:
Aura Extension: May extend own aura around body and weapon to interact with / damage immaterial objects and creatures.Use of Necessary Energy: May spend up to 10x the normal amount of time on intense physical activities before becoming fatigued, and may spend up to 5 Fatigue Points per round instead of the normal 2.
Styles:
Yuuse Battojutsu: Minor Ars Magnus allowing Gorōzaemon to draw his weapon with no penalty, and increases Attack and Initiative upon the unsheathing turn for +10 for each turn it remained sheathed, up to a maximum of +30.Techniques:
Devastate: May spend 21 ki points (3+ turns of accumulation) for +90 Attack and -6 to enemy AT. Must be used when unsheathing weapon, and ki points accumulated for this purpose cannot be spent on other techniques or abilities.
General Rank
B
General Type
Samurai
Aura
Vibrant blue
Blood Type
AB
Known Languages
Japanese
B
General Type
Samurai
Aura
Vibrant blue
Blood Type
AB
Alignment
Lawful Neutral-Good
Current Location
Species
Ethnicity
Year of Birth
1530
29 Years old
Circumstances of Birth
Born into service of the Oda Clan
Birthplace
Aichi District, Owari
Spouses
Siblings
Children
Current Residence
Wakigami Castle
Gender
Male
Eyes
Dark, intense
Hair
Shoulder-length, black
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Bronzed
Height
6'6"
Weight
245
Quotes & Catchphrases
...
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
Character Prototype
Comments