| David Ban Lao Deveneu | |
|---|---|
| Aliases | David, Giant Slayer |
| Family | Amalthea Deveneu (Sister) |
| Species | half-Kirin |
| Universe | 59343921 ("A Very Scary Thought," by Jim R. Bader) |
| Creators | Jim R. Bader |
| Gender | Male |
David Ban Lao Deveneu --14, Son of Jeannette Franscoius Devenue & Kyledor
Appearance[]
He is barely five feet in height maybe no more than fifty-seven inches, and approximately fourteen or fifteen years of age with short-cropped white hair that fell partially over a face that is both youthful and strangely handsome. He is definitely oriental, though his features speak more of the mainland than of Japan, either Vietnamese or Korean. He wears a short sleeveless vest that exposes his narrow chest to full view, and a pair of worn trousers with sandals on his feet completing what comprises his entire outfit. He also wears a very large cross that hangs from a platinum chain about his neck, resting upon his breast and somehow emanates a power that is not divine in nature but most definitely reeks of the unholy.
History[]
After her mothers death Jeannette Franscoius Devenue, Amalthea Deveneu was left to care for her infant brother Ban Lao as their father Kyledor Windrider, wasted away and became a shadow of his former majesty, and in time they had only each other to care for in a realm that no longer suited their half-breed nature. She thus elected to carry her brother on her back as she ventured to the plane of mortality, to experience life in their mother's realm, armed only with a gift bequeathed to them by their father on the eve attending his demise.
A weapon forged from one of the fangs of their father seemed an odd gift to carry about, and so Amalthea had it hidden away in a cave beneath a stone so that she would know where to find it if there came a need for its use. Without it the pair could attract far less attention as they ventured south of the border of hostilities between two factions of mortals, and in time made their way to a very large metropolis named Seoul, which contained within its boundaries more human beings that either sibling had even known could possibly be in existence.
Being refuges of the North put them in a somewhat awkward situation as they knew nothing about the struggle of ideas being waged between the two contending factions. They did, however, find solace in a Christian run missionary devoted to the Reverend Sun Yung Moon, and they stayed among them for a time until Amalthea began to grow restless and distrusting of the order and its intentions.
Their story was not credible to many, but they were of such an unusual nature that they came to the attention of those higher up in the organization, who thought to exploit their heritage for their own political uses. Amalthea at length rebelled against their efforts and took her more impressionable brother with her, only to find that escaping from this church was not so easy as to merely employ her Kirin-like strength to breaking doors and locks in order to find egress.
To the church her rebelliousness was intolerable. Moreover she was a woman, and as such a prize too valuable to let go in such a manner. A plot was hatched to divide the siblings with an elaborate ruse to make the younger boy and the girl believe that each was dead at the hands of enemies who were non-Christians. Amalthea simply disappeared from this story, leaving a seven-year-old David in the compassionate hands of Han Lee Soto who nurtured within him a belief that his sister had died a martyr in the cause of Christ against the Godless.
Seven years later and the boy---renamed with the Christian title of "David" the "Giant Slayer"---had grown to near-manhood with the strength of a giant and the cold rage of a determined warrior for Jesus. A stray memory had led him back to the place where his father's sword was buried and the Church Elders were quick to name the weapon as "The Ravensclaw Sword," a holy artifact once carried by a Christian knight during the crusades...or so went the story that they wove for his benefit. With the sword the boy was all but invincible and could be counted upon to dutifully carry out certain select "assignments" against those he was informed were the minions of Satan.
Currently he was on loan by the Church in the service of one Otono Reyabi, said by some to be a modern day Prophet and divine emissary sent by God to rid the world of sin and evil. David had been greatly impressed by Otono and was convinced of his new Lord's sincerity and purpose, and as such had cast his lot in with the Plan to visit holy vengeance upon the nation of Japan long the enemy of Korea and home to a tragic history whose very nature had caused David's blood to boil, and to which end he viewed the plan to be entirely of merit.
That thousands possibly millions of people would have to die in order to see the plan through was, of course, regrettable but David was by now quite inured to death and killing and could view it on balance as a "necessary sacrifice" in order to achieve the Lord's vengeance.
And so, as had often been the way with him over the past several years, when he was given a command to seek out a sinner and render judgement upon them, David carried out his orders like a dutiful "Soldier of Christ" without hesitation or doubt. He believed utterly in the righteousness of his assignments and would pray afterwards for the souls of those whom he had slaughtered as his way of satisfying his conscience that he was truly doing the work of the angels. Never had his conditioning failed nor the grip of his beliefs been shaken, for Faith was his armor against the unrighteous, and was not the fact that he held such mighty strength in itself proof enough of God's favor?
So now he was on a quest to kill Nabiki Tendo said by his master Han Lee Soto to be a threat to their plan, and beyond that all he knew was that she was a sinner of the worst order, a harlot who slept with both men and women for base lust and used people like pawns and tools to further her own dark ambitions. Truly she was evil and corrupt enough to warrant punishment, and it was given over into his hands to deliver the judgement of Heaven against those who dared make a mockery of the sacraments...even apart from the fact that the woman in question was both a temptress and a pagan.
Bursting into the walls of the Furinkan school grounds he was by approached by the co-captain of the Kendo club as few other members. David reacted by unslinging the huge weapon that had lain across his shoulders. With a sudden slice of the air he conjured up a wave of force that sliced the ground and scattered the athletic-clad students, causing Trudy to freeze in mid step and gape in amazement at the callous display of energy that had bowled those students down like ten pins. Telling the three to stay there Trudy left to confront Ban.
The athletic class made panic stricken noises as their "Coach" took off running, crossing the distance between where they were and the latest menace to student discipline and order had just made his mark in school annals. It took a surprisingly brief time---no more than mere seconds---for Trudy to cover two hundred meters at a run, but then she leaped high into the air and threw herself bodily at Ban. Who merely raised his sword to block her...and she rebounded off an invisible barrier without coming near enough to touch him, though a shock like pain went from her feet up to the rest of her body. Trudy was momentarily stunned as she fell to the ground, but instinct and reflex caused her to roll back to her feet in a fighting crouch as she confronted the young man who was responsible for the carnage that she perceived all around her.
What she did find incredible was her perception of the young man himself, for staring at him from closer proximity confounded her senses utterly while confirming the worst of her suspicions. It did not take a Kurustani's senses to notice, for example, that the boy was not entirely human. Ban demanded that Trudy get out his way stating that he was there to eliminate Nabiki when she asked why he attacked the school. Hearing his wife’s name Ranma came trotting up to take a position of his own only a few meters away from where Trudy stood at the ready. Trudy told him to stay back but Ranma was hearing none of it. Realizing that Ranma was Nabiki’s husband Ban turned his focus on him. He then made another passing sweep with his blade that Trudy sensed coming with just barely enough time to evade as a wave of force tore through the air and threatened to consume everything and burn it to mere ashes.
Ranma heard Nagisha cry out in his mind even as he instinctively raised both arms and summoned up her power, causing the earth to rise up and form a barrier against which the energy wave broke like the sea against a levy, resulting in a mammoth explosion as the opposing forces met and canceled out one another. But not without consequences as the shock-wave generated by this conflict sent everyone within fifty meters scattering like sakura leaves during the autumn harvest, while Ukyo and Perfume called out in mutual dismay at seeing their husband go flying backwards. The battle of Furinkan was joined with a self-styled Missionary about to make his mark in the land of the rising sun, the first stage of a greater conflict that soon would threaten the whole of the Japanese home islands.
David regarded Trudy reckoning that she was a witch after seeing her withstand his Wind Scar. Trudy demanded to know who he was but he just ignored her and asked where Nabiki was. Her confusion turned to skepticism as she called him out for attacking and injuring her students he responded by attempting to kill her. Trudy was easily able to incapacitate him on to encounter some kind of resistance field. David momentarily lost his aloof cool as a savage element within his nature rose up to guide his hand, causing Trudy to realize the he was going more of a challenge then she thought as he had some sort of magical protection. After a while a good many of her resources began to be exhausted and when things seemed particularly grim to a much-beleaguered Trudy, the arrival of Tatewaki and Natsume offered her a much-needed respite from the uneven Battle.
Angered at the destruction David wrought Kuno cut through the air with a powerful slice that caused the very air itself to reverberate with power, and David was caught off guard by the attack, barely managing to raise his own sword in time to deflect the Ki wave that would have done to him what he had rendered upon so many. David was about to retaliate when Natsume followed up with a second attack. That was followed up the arrival of Perfume who slashed away with her axes, using precisely controlled movements and near-flawless coordination to drive their foe on the defensive, which gave Tatewaki and Natsume the break they needed to ready for their own offensives.
David was all but driven to his knees under the weight of their assault. However much to their surprise when the force of the attack was expended David just rose up from his crouch as if nothing happened. The next moment he slashed the ground with his sword while summoning up his own formidable Ki, and all at once a wave of energy swept out and caught all three of his assailants unawares. Perfume felt the searing heat of his blistering energy assault her very nerve complex and cried out as she fell backwards, even while Tatewaki and Natsume were similarly driven away, losing their individual grips upon their weapons as the pain overwhelmed even the hearty constitution of a Slayer.
Ukyo rushed to the side of her fallen beloved while a recovered Ranma attacked David in retaliation. Though more confused then hurt David lost his grip on his own sword blade and landed flat upon his back, momentarily stunned by blow he had not even sensed coming. Ranma cloaked himself in the Umisenken but David was not daunted a second time by the same trick and knocked him out before going to pick up his sword. At this point he was confronted by Angelique d'Anjou who called him out for claiming to be a servant of god despite his wanton destruction. Angered at Angel’s audacity David attacked her but she proved to be far more skilled then him and thus the battle was joined with the major players engaged in a duel of holy honor.
David attempted to exert himself against Angel, but try as he might he could not budge her from the uneasy stand-off of their interlocked blades foiling the intent of one another. More disturbing yet still she did not appear to be exerting herself and indeed gave the impression that she was holding him off without serious effort. As they struggled the two continued to argue about which one of them were on the righteous path. Trudy eventually called her out for merely fending David telling her that he was to dangerous. Angel replied that she did not war with children. This caused Takaharis to speak up stating that while he may be a child he has the power tear this whole place apart and level everything to the ground and clearly he had the mind to.
While she was mindful of the danger she still sought David’s redemption. This outraged David as he was furious at her for implying that he his path wasn’t righteous. When she called him out for all the innocents he had hurt he brought up the evils that Japan had done to his country stating that forgiveness can’t be given until the third generation. Seeing that he wouldn’t see reason Angel summoned up her internal power. Seeing that the two were about to unleash the Wind Scar Trudy and Takaharis got everyone out of the area.
All at once David made a forward slice through the air, and all at once it reverberated with a shockwave-style explosion that met the upraised blade of Angelique, whose voice was raised in a sing-song chant that was itself completely drowned out by the roar of unquenchable fury that had been released upon her. A backwash wave of force swept out to the sides and bowled over the many rows of students currently standing off on the sidelines at what they had (incorrectly) believed to be a safe distance. The entire campus was rocked by the effect of that explosion...but when the air quieted down once again and the wave had spent itself utterly, giving way to a disturbing quiet...heads looked up to see that Angelique yet stood her ground, her sword still upraised and her person inviolate to any ill effects from the force wave.
Hearing the surviving students cheer Angel on upon seeing the testament of her resourcefulness David clenched his sword in hand and seethed with growing fury, not only enraged at the stubborn refusal of Angel to be put in her proper place by the Lord's Chosen but also incensed that her standing against him had just made her effectively into an idol. With that he raised both arms and a sudden detonation of force fanned out from him in a wave of concussive force very different from that unleashed before in that it bore a foul stench and caused many to grip their noses to keep from retching.
He then threw himself into another attack, and this time Angelique was not on her best guard and could not move fast enough to entirely avoid it. Her sword did manage to deflect the sideways thrust but she was thrown backwards and off balance as the younger man plunged in and hotly pressed his own advantage. Eventually Angelique began to tire of the prolonged battle, the efforts of keeping her guard up proving so taxing that it was taking more and more of her resources. David similarly was starting to get a bit winded from swinging his own oversized blade around, forced to concede to himself in silence that he had never had to go this long in a fight, not even when in training against the monstrous likes of Lord Talon.
All at once he rallied the strength to throw her back with the force of his muscles. And then while she was once again momentarily thrown off balance and too tired to bring her sword up to block in time he took a savage sweep at her mid-section and this time scored a telling blow, one that resounded hard against her armor and sent her faltering backwards with a yelp of pain, though had she been unarmored it was more than likely that she would have been cut in half like so much rice paper. Seeing her go down onto her armored backside he raised his sword to deliver a more telling blow. Only for a metal spike to bite into his forearm preventing him from delivering his death blow.
Trudy winched as several more spikes went past his head. Growling in frustration at his forcefield she was forced to dive for the dirt and flatten herself as he sent a wave of force flowing from a casual sweep of his blade. Turning back towards his fallen foe David brought his huge sword high in a down-ward chopping notion. Only to be stopped again his time by Nabiki. Before he knew it he felt something connect against his jaw that took him by surprise completely, and all at once it was hit turn to go tumbling backwards, this time losing his grip upon his massive weapon as he fell to the earth with his head ringing like a church bell.
Finally given time to recover Angel recognized Kanada as the boy she encountered in the cave when helping Nabiki give birth. Winching as she felt a stab in the side beneath her armor where several ribs had been cracked Angel welcomed the time to recover as Nabiki advanced on David. Though she made sure to warn him that he was dangerous. Nabiki seized a firm grip over the boy's fur vest then yanked him to his feet before punching him in the face. David’s world briefly darkened with the explosion of fireworks, stars and pin-wheels, and all at once he found himself briefly touching the sky as he soared backwards with less than the grace of the angels.
David landed hard and did not immediately regain his bearings as the pounding he had just taken, combined with his relative state of exhaustion, left him momentarily unable to rally his defenses, even though his phenomenal rate of healing was kicking in even then to fortify and restore his energy reserves and body. Needing a few more seconds to heal David glared at Kaneda/Nabiki who had paused in his assault against his downed opponent and once again over the righteousness of his actions. Once he recovered enough sprang into action only to be knocked down again. Unfortunately for Nabiki she couldn’t follow up on her assault and was sent tumbling backwards as regained his confident footing.
Calling the Ravenclaw back to him David launched his assault with devastating speed and power, far beyond what anyone could have reasonably imagined. Kaneda managed to dodge the sweeping attack by the oversized sword but found himself wide open to a more personal assault as David's fist rocketed to his jaw and sent the older boy sprawling backward in the dirt, momentarily stunned and utterly quite helpless. He attempted to shake off the effects of surprisingly powerful blow but his head refused to clear and there were stars and planets obscuring his vision, leaving him temporarily without an acute understanding of his opponent's present tactical position. It was only Sharil’s intervention and a lifetime of conditioning that saved him.
Seeing her pause to thank Sharil David demanded to know who she was talking to while preparing to attack again. When she informed him that his sword wasn’t the real Ravensclaw he down in a savage slice that struck the earth directly before him and sent a wave of concussive force hurtling directly towards Kaneda, who was too close and lacked sufficient time to avoid it. Luckily Sharil intervened again and the attack merely passed through her. As David froze in shock at seeing this, Nabiki froze at seeing the devastation his attack wrought. Nabiki was the first to recover and struck David full in the face with sufficient concussive effect that the arrogant boy was sent flying backwards in a horizontal position.
David recovered as Nabiki was forming a temporary pact with Sharil, but before he could attack he was confronted by Hinako and Godai Kuno. Ignoring Saki and Kaneda’s warning Hinako attacked. David reacted with a start and dug the tip of his sword into the ground as he felt his energy begin to be drained into the hand of the little girl, who abruptly started growing to full adulthood. Thinking she was a witch he ripped his sword up out of the ground and using it to block the cone of absorption as it was large enough to act as a full-bodied shield against Hinako.
Miss Hinako was dismayed to feel the currents of energy that she had been absorbing change from that of a hot battle aura to something far colder and more bone-chilling than the iciest glacier. All at once the sword began to glow hotly, altering the temperature of the Chi that she absorbed to well beyond normal tolerances, which is why she abruptly broke off her attack and fell to her knees clutching at her head as something horrible and hideous attempted to assault her senses. With the collapse of her absorption field, however, Principle Kuno sensed his moment to strike and thought to take advantage of the mildly weakened state of David.
Unfortunately David recovered in time and cut him in half. His top half peeled off from his lower body and landed to the side, his legs taking a moment longer to collapse as blood began to spurt from both halves of severed trunk, leaving only a stunned silence in the wake of his topple from grace and power. Which was broken by Tatewaki’s horrid cry for his father. Without showing the slightest remorse for his actions, David turned to finish off Hinako. Who at the last second was saved by Saki, who pulled her out of danger and hastily carried her from the field of impending disaster.
David appeared mildly dismayed at finding his second intending victim had eluded him, but the next instant he was attacked by Ranma. David’s head exploded in pain and he once more found himself to be horizontally airborne. He and Kanada then launched a double-attack on the recovering David. Though strong, fast and powerful, David was not the equal of his foes in the skills department. Where he had the talent they had the mastery of mind and body that he lacked, so even though he was an experienced "giant killer" he still was taking the worst of their exchanges.
Further complicating matters Ranma and Nabiki used such radically different and contrasting styles of combat that it was difficult to rally a defense against their methods. They fought tenaciously and yet seemed to have an instinctive appreciation of one another's maneuvers, often coordinating their attacks and defenses without needing to communicate verbally between them, which also kept David on the defensive as he never knew which would next attack and which one would serve to block an attack in defense of the other.
Ranma's fists had the force and integrity of a stone hammer as he landed a solid blow on the jaw of the half-breed assassin, while Nabiki's attacks were more fluid and had the elusive tenacity of water as she flowed around and assaulted their foe from unexpected angles. David was hard pressed to absorb their attacks, and as powerful as his own movements were he might as well have been fighting in molasses as he failed time and again to connect with his counter-strokes, while they had no difficulty dancing around the swings of his ridiculously oversized sword and getting inside his guard to maintain their relentless offensive.
But the more they pounded on him the angrier he became, and as fast as they inflicted damage David managed to shrug it off and continued to attack them, acting as if fatigue did not impair his movements in the slightest, and so powerful were his attacks that a single one would have ended the battle for at least one or both of his assailants. Ranma called him out for what he did to Principle Kuno, but David just replied in defensive outrage that he was the one who got in the way before attacking. At they both continued to defend against his assault he called them both witches. They replied by calling him a hypocrite for calling himself a Christian while disregarding one of its chief commandments against killing. David was caught off-guard by the attack and was struck head-on by the full force of a Mako Takabishi, and sent hurtling backwards, plowing yet another furrow in the yard before he come to rest a hundred meters away.
Much to their surprise he was able to shrug it off. Trudy was able to put a forcefield just in time to block his shock wave. Takaharis provided a second surprise when she informed David’s energy was rising. David brought his sword up high and sliced the ground once again, causing a wave of force far greater than before to orient towards the gathered party as the earth opened up to swallow them completely.
Thinking he had won he was shocked when Ranko Saotome suddenly appeared to challenged him. Ignoring his demands of who she was Ranko summoned her enchanted war-hammer reflexively began spinning her hammer around by its leather strap, creating a barrier against his attack before throwing it. As fast as David moved to block the throw his sword barely intercepted the hammer as force collided with force and caused a deafening ring in the air that staggered him backwards.
Ranko threw her hammer again this time at his sword arm. David was clearly surprised and taken aback by her maneuver as her hammer-throw came close to literally disarming him, knocking the sword from his grasp and shattering several bones in the process. While shocked and in pain David refused to give up his mission. Then much to Ranko’s surprise he summoned up the force of his own spiritual energy to heal himself before using it attack her. Ranko dodge rapidly, feeling their searing heat come near to blistering her skin from but the very nearness of his flame strike.
When she tried to hit him she found that it felt like punching solid iron so switched back to her hammer. Distracted David missed Kuno sneaking up behind him and just as he was about to attack Ranko again Kuno stabbed him in the back. David cried out in horrified outrage, and in doing so his body emanated a wave of force that threw Tatewaki back. pulling out the bokken he outline once again momentarily shimmered and distorted. Afterwards he wound was healed leaving nothing but a pink scar. Seeing the effect of avenging his father be erased Kuno surprised everyone by how calm he sounded. This just lead to another argument of David rambling that his path was righteous which ended with him unleashing another fire-burst.
Kuno was saved by Nabiki who intercepted the attack with a wall of water. this had the effect of transforming Nabiki back to her original form. Unfortunately it also drained what little reserves she had left. Nabiki introduced herself and just as David realized that she was the one he was sent to kill. Frank arrived vaulting over the nearest section of wall and arced slowly in the air, headed inevitably towards the enraged half-Kirin. David recovered as everyone explained to Frank and Kasumi what was going on. Having enough he surged to his feet and stretched out a hand to summon his humungously large weapon. Frank recognized it as a Kirin’s claw but before he could remembered where it was from David unleashed yet another of his patented shock-waves with a slice of the air by his sword, only this time discharging ten times the force of his previous attack waves.
However it was blocked by Kasumi with an east that made a mockery of his furious rampage. As Kasumi tried to get him to see reason Siren arrived. David pointed his blade at her, but Siren not wanting to deal with him just extended her hand and caused the silver cross around his neck to fly into his hand. She tossed it to Angel who promptly destroyed it. With the spell over the area broken Trudy made her move striking David at the base of his neck, and with no further adieu he collapsed to the ground like a puppet and ceased glowing altogether.
Though tempted Trudy didn’t kill David just knocked him out as she figured he was of more use alive. Frank had a containment crew bring him in. David was later taken and held captive by NERV where he was eventually rescued by Amalthea and Ulsa. When David finally came to and saw Amalthea he initially thought that he was in Heaven. Upon seeing Amalthea he tried make sense of the image of the half-naked girl as he asked how she was alive. Amalthea started going on about how Han had lied to him and how happy she was that they were finally together. He finally noticed Ulsa when she calmed Amalthea down. He frowned when Amalthea introduced Ulsa as her Mistress however his main focus was on the fact that Ulsa wasn’t a Christian name. Ulsa gave him a cool smile and regarded him levelly with her impossibly clear blue eyes before confirming that she wasn’t a Christian. Amalthea was shocked at hearing the hostility in David’s tone when he responded by asking if she was a minion of Satan.
David called her a liar when she told him that there was no Satan. Ignoring his queasiness David forced himself to his feet and demanded to know who Ulsa was and why she claimed ownership over his sister. He almost attacked her when she replied that Amalthea had already named her only for her to increase the gravity around him smashing him back into the sands as though an invisible giant’s hand had flattened him thusly. Ulsa informed him that while she adhors violence she would not sit passively with him and permit him to threaten her. Though she was quick to assure Amalthea that he wasn’t hurt though she had to make sure he did not provoke her again.
Far more wary he shook off Amalthea’s attempts at comforting him and asked Ulsa again if she was a demon. When she replied no he asked her if she was a servant of the Lord which she again replied negatively. Amalthea finally spoke up telling him who Ulsa was and that he was being ungrateful by provoking her like that. David didn’t see why he should be grateful he just wanted to know how Amalthea was still alive. Amalthea finally let loose seeing how much David trusted Han all but exploding in his face as she told him exactly what Han did to her. Through it all David protested telling himself that she must be under the influence of Satan. Amalthea refused let him do that and reached out to grab the younger man by the shirt, lifting him off of his feet and shaking him like a leaf as she continued to shout at him.
David tried to work himself free of the older girl’s grip but found that rage had leant to her a righteous kind of strength that defied his own physical prowess, so he was left helplessly to say that she was wrong. When she told him that he was brainwashed David called her a liar and started claiming that all of this was a trick of Satan that she wasn’t really his sister. Amalthea stared in dismay at the younger man’s denial, then she let go of him and dropped him back to his feet. Shaking her head in dismay she turned to Ulsa and asked what was wrong with him.
Ulsa informed her that David believes that he can resist seeing the truth by shutting out the unpleasant facts that he knows within his heart are real in favor of a standard excuse line that has been well practiced. He is in denial, but on some primal level he does hear and understand what you are saying. She refused when she asked her to make him see reason as she had no right to violate his free will and sovereignty.
This gave David something to latch onto once again and started to insult Ulsa screaming various obscenities only to be slapped by Amalthea. Eyes burned with righteous anger Amalthea called him out for not only embracing the service of evil, but bringing shame upon their name by speaking in such foul tones to her Mistress. David felt the side of his cheek, the ringing in his ears finally drowning out the fury of his righteous wrath as he stared at his older sibling and saw the sterness of his own mother burning within her golden eyes. As she went on David tried to raise a point in his defense, knowing that he ought to be able to quote some verse from scripture that would cover these affairs and explain everything in a neat and orderly manner. Amalthea tried to get him to realize his heritage. He turned to Ulsa again relieved to have someone other than his fierce-eyed sister to confront with his righteous fury when she spoke up saying that he could feel it and shouldn’t deny it.
He instantly rethought this strategy as he caught a look of something in the eyes of the blonde Ulsa that chilled him to his marrow. His eyes grew wide in horror as Ulsa released the restraint that binded his memories. David took a step backwards and away from the enigmatic woman, yet for all his attempts to put distance between them he could not shut out the memories that were awakening from inside him, lost or blocked memories of the lies his handlers told him
Amalthea gave back with a start as though hearing these thoughts within her own head, thinking how lucky she was to have found her way to Lao. When David still tried to deny what he was remembering Ulsa gave a very soft sigh and then stood up from her perch upon the choral. She took three steps down and set her bare feet upon the sandy soil and then confronted David directly with a gaze so level that you would have thought that they had been transported onto a battle arena. Seeing David assume a fighting crouch as if preparing to attack the blonde before him Amalthea started to move forward, only to be stopped in her tracks as her Mistress raised a hand and silently ordered her to keep her distance.
Seeing Ulsa once again giving his sister orders David immediately charged ahead with a fist that carried the weight of his supernaturally enhanced strength backed by the pain and rage of the confusing tide that raged within him. Ulsa did not move by so much as an inch, but the fist missed its mark and went wide of the target, and all at once David splashed face down in the tidal pool, tasting brine for all of his troubles. Despite being told that violence didn’t work against her David pushed himself up and tried to execute a leg-sweep, but again he misjudged the distance and went tumbling onto his rump even as a wave lapped the shore and soaked him thoroughly for his troubles. Yet he still ignored her warnings and continued his assault. Amalthea cried in dismay as she saw her brother get picked up and carried by a blast he took full in the chest and sent sprawling on his back at several meters distance.
Ulsa told her he was fine as she wasn’t trying to hurt him just get him to learn to pick his enemies more carefully and not to presume the worst of everyone whom he encounters. Understanding Amalthea thanked her mistress. Ulsa then revealed that she was just paving the way for the one who will become his new teacher, revealed to be Anri. David tried to sit back up, only to blink his eyes as the sun played tricks with the lighting and made him turn his head in surprise as he caught the silhouette of the seated Anri. When he asked who he was Anri replied by asking who he was a puppet prince or a swan in the shape of a Kirin. He then went on to tell David that it was time for him to be Baptized in the proper way. Confused David told him that he had already been baptized only to be told not the way Anri does it.
David admitted as he felt the rage and anger melt away from him inexplicably, to be filled with a dawning sense of awe that took away his ordinary fears and replaced them with something more akinto a holy rapture. Anri stated that was a good place to start assuring him that by the end of the day he would learn the true meaning of repentance and forgiveness. If he survived the teaching process that is. David tried to grasp for something familiar to take hold of, only to find his crucifix was missing, the most prized of all of his possessions. Seeing Anri holding it he balled his fists and looked quite determined to take it back by force, but Anri just smiled at the challenge and waited for the younger man to make the first move, which would begin the pain and humiliation of teaching this brash young fellow not to rush into things or be quite so impulsive as he was hardly the passive sort like his sister and was more than ready to show off his own brand of righteous retribution.
Anri, endured the verbal abuse of David who refused to believe that he was Jesus Christ, despite the fact that Anri kept denying that he was. He also called David out on the hypocrisy of his rhetoric. Eventually David couldn’t take it anymore and attacked Anri who waved a dismissive hand and turned his back upon the youth, affecting a posture of total nonchalance. Despite this David kept missing his target no matter how many times he lunged Anri was simply not where his clawed hands attempted to grapple. All the while Anri kept commenting on where his skill needed to improve as he easily dodged every attempt on David’s part to nail him. Eventually Anri did go on the offensive bringing both palms together, then made a finger-steepling gesture and pushed the air forward while making a faint humming noise, and all at once a violet radiance took the shape of a ball of energy which he gently pushed forward, causing it to glide ahead like a mere soap bubble, drifting purposefully in the direction of the astonished David. The youth knew better than to stand his ground and look, but still he remained perversely fascinated with the energy ball as it came to within a few inches of his face, looking for all the word like an illuminated grape the size of an orange and not in any way menacing…an impression dispelled one instant later when the ball exploded in his face, sending the half-breed Kirin youth tumbling backwards into the foam-flecked surfside water.
Anri sat serenely composed with legs crossed in a full lotus, perched upon the rock where he had remained for all the frantic attempts of the young half-Kirin boy to try and silence his lecture. While David felt feel numb from the beating he had taken, even though the one tormenting his mind and soul had not yet laid a hand upon his person during the past hour of David’s rebuke desperately.
David felt his strength fail him as he tried to rally once again in yet another attempt to beat down this aggravating being who kept hammering away at his faith with gentle words that mocked his very being. He leaned against the coral rock that dared uphold the fair haired man assaulting his certainty with words that tore into his soul like claws of flame. He finally asked what Anri wanted from him to which he replied that he wanted David to listen and think like a rational person, and not a petulant child seeking the approval of his false parental icons. Rallying what little strength he had left as he sought to deny the pounding pressure of the back of his own mind where long buried memories were starting to rise up to challenge his self-conception. David told Anri that he couldn’t make David renounce his faith.
Anri’s reply was that David would do it himself of his own free will just as he has endured the Siege Perilous of Anri’s interrogation to come this far to awakening the memory of who he truly is, and to banish this false idea of himself that was superimposed on him. David is breaking out of that shell even as he attempts to insist that he is immune to Anri’s teachings. As more and more terrible memories starting to rise up to call into question everything he once had held as certain. David was stunned, his mouth hung open as he stared at Anri with growing horror and dawning comprehension that he could have left any time he wanted yet stayed and railed against Anri because he knew deep in his heart that the truth he sought could only be found if he stopped trying to run away and hide from it.
As Anri continued to lecture him David gripped at his own head and tried to fight the deteriorating shadows that were shredding away, allowing the floodgates of his memories to awaken. David wailed as the dark images gave way to terrible sights and sounds that awakened to his knowledge as he re-experienced the awful sight of evil men tearing him away from the loving arms of his helpless sister…and the things which they then did to her while dragging David off to be abused in a different sense, the slow and steady process of converting him into a servant of their evil. David moaned as he collapsed to his knees clutching at his face and keening softly as the memories began to come crashing down upon him head, tearing apart his wall of certainty as he started to remember the things that he had endured at the hands of those who had called themselves his nominal masters.
At this point Amalthea rushed to her brother and threw her arms around him and gripped him by his wrists as he instinctively started to struggle against her efforts to restrain him from doing physical damage to himself, while Anri looked down and regarded them both with infinite compassion. He began to wonder if he was a bit too rough on David in forcing him to regard the truth, but Ulsa insisted that he needed to face this. As it was long since time that he grew up and leave behind the mistakes of his painful and tragic past. Just then the two sensed the attack on the Kuno estate. Amalthea was ready to help but was worried about David. Anri surprised everyone by telling her to take him with her. He explained that David needed to know that what he is experiencing now are true memories and not the mere shadows of ill fancy.
David was still shedding tears as he stared bleary eyed up the quixotic man who had been tormenting him with words before now, only this time he correctly read the compassion and understanding in Anri’s expression, and then he turned a glance up at Amalthea, and gently pushed himself away, attempting to stand on his own feet without anyone else’s assistance. Amalthea instinctively reached down to lend him support but found the gentle hand of Ulsa upon her shoulder restraining her action. David managed to get upright and on his feet on his third attempt, and then he stared hard at Anri and made a decision that, for him, meant turning a page on his entire existence as he said resolutely, he would go and see the truth for himself.
Personality[]
David Ban Lo is wanted by Interpol on numerous counts including armed assault and even mass murder. Though he works as an assassin for Han Lee Soto David does not consider himself to be an altogether bad person, just a tragic one whose life had been filled with the pain of loss, despair and redemption. He believes himself to be a missionary on a quest to fulfill the will of his Lord Otono Reyabi, a man favored by God as a prophet and herald of the 'End of Times' that were forthcoming. As such he believes his methods no matter how cruel to be entirely justified.
Relationships[]
Equipment[]
Cross: Has some kind or resistance field that protects ban from damage "That's odd...some kind of resistance field. That should have taken you out...if it had connected the way it was supposed to
Ravensclaw Avenger: A powerful sword, wielded by Ban lo. Though he was led to believe it was the legendary Raven's Claw Avenger in actuality it is a gift from his father created from one of his claws and made to resemble a sword. As a Kirin's claw it is a monstrous thing over three meters long and a meter in width that weighs a quarter ton. The cross guard turns into a large patch of fur. The blade has a number of different abilities, the ability to destroy barriers, and energy absorption.
Powers & Abilities[]
Ban Lo is a Toishindin fighter and as such his ability to harness and use his Ki is unparalleled among martial artists. Which is proven by his ability to unleash the legendary 'Wind Scar' with ease. With a bit more training and the right kind of teacher he might amount to something close to invincible, but as it is. He's just cruising on his untapped potential. He's part Kirin, which means that spiritual energy is in his blood and he can't be taken down by a mere energy blast. He also has the strength of giants, this is made evident with the fact that he is easily able to wield his weapon as though it were not many times larger than him, and thus beyond the rules of conventional physics that would have dictated that he could not carry it that way, no matter if he has the strength of a giant.
One of David's greatest advantages he has is that he gets stronger the more that he fights and the greater his determination to triumph. Every time he gets knocked down it but tears away more and more of the feeble restraint imposed upon his true nature by the human veneer he wears as a half-breed. The angrier he gets the more the Kirin blood within him takes charge, and his wrath is terrible to behold when he is at full measure. He doesn't get stronger not really more like he's losing self-control and shedding his humanity with it. It’s the kirin blood within him that's in the process of burning its way out and the more he fights the greater the risk of him burning himself out altogether.
Claws: David has sharp, blade-like claws and he can use them to easily slice ordinary foes to ribbons. Normally, he uses these claws in Soul Reaver Strike unleashing a solid wave of pure red energy that splits the space between him and his target.