Japanese Gothic

[Michael Hopcroft]

The rather unique brand of Gothic horror (in the Bram Stoker sense, not neccesarily the woD one) seems to have taken on a life of its own.

 

Rozen Maiden, of course, is the most recognizable series in the genre. It's warrior-dolls dressed in the fashion style known as "Elegant Gothic Lolita" (you're trying to look like an antique doll, which is appropriate in this case because that's exactly what Shinku and company were). Now there have been other series with simialr styles and looks coming out.

 

One of the better ones, a recent arrival, is Monster Princess. Once again, an otherwise ordinary young man becomes involved in affairs beyond his ken when he accidentally saves his life to save an overdressed young woman from falling girders (why do anime contractors use such dangerously poor equipment to build high-rises?). She shows her "gratitude" by resurrecting him (with an incantation straight out of Lovecraft), causing him to turn up at her doorstep that night to get between her and certain death again.

 

After asking him how it feels to die twice in one day, she reveals that he is now immortal -- temporarily. She and only she will have to renew the spell that keeps his soul in his body and his body alive every two days, or he'll die. As the reward for his efforts and the price of his gift, he is to be her "servant" -- forever. Or until she herself dies, whichever comes first. The only name he is allowed to use for her is Hime (Princess), for that is what she is -- Princess of the Monsters, including the Werewolves (honorable creatures, in her eyes, unless forced into behaving otherwise) and the Vampires (whom she openly despises for their selfishness and vanity).

 

Apparently Hime is locked in some sort of power struggle with her brother, who is apparently sending supernatural assassins after her wherever she goes. In addition to her new "friend", Hime is protected by a little girl who is incredibly strong and virtually invulnerable, but incapable of speaking Japanese (only Hime understands her utterances); the assassin refers to the girl as an "artificial human", implying that she was constructed much as Frankenstein constructed his Monster.

 

The only reason the poor guy is involved in this mess is because his sister is the caretaker for Hime's house, and apparently the only reason she was chosen to be caretaker is that she's too unfocused to ask "stupid questions" like "What are all these dead dogs doing in the yard?" (or perhaps all the protein she ever ate went to developing her absurdly large bustline rather than her brain).

[Michael Hopcroft]

Re: Japanese Gothic

 

I'm trying to figure out how to write up Hime and Hiroshi for HERO, and Hiroshi's "half-immortality" presents a problem. Unless Hime neglects his recharges, Hiro can't die. You could cut his head off -- heck, you could grind him into hamburger or blast him into bite-sized chunks -- and he'd remain alive and Hime would be able to heal him to full strength (which, admittedly, isn't all that much). This breaks just about every character design rule in HERO.

 

But he can't heal at all on his own, and has no other superhuman abilities whatsoever (and very few human ones). He is also compelled to go to Hime's aid when she's in trouble, whether she actually needs his help or not. And if Hime dies, he dies for good -- probably immediately afterwards, and certainly within 36 hours. (Some have speculated that he might try to kill Hime himself as a way out of the nightmare his existence has become).

[Arkham]

Re: Japanese Gothic

 

I'm trying to figure out how to write up Hime and Hiroshi for HERO, and Hiroshi's "half-immortality" presents a problem. Unless Hime neglects his recharges, Hiro can't die. You could cut his head off -- heck, you could grind him into hamburger or blast him into bite-sized chunks -- and he'd remain alive and Hime would be able to heal him to full strength (which, admittedly, isn't all that much). This breaks just about every character design rule in HERO.

 

But he can't heal at all on his own, and has no other superhuman abilities whatsoever (and very few human ones). He is also compelled to go to Hime's aid when she's in trouble, whether she actually needs his help or not. And if Hime dies, he dies for good -- probably immediately afterwards, and certainly within 36 hours. (Some have speculated that he might try to kill Hime himself as a way out of the nightmare his existence has become).

 

Having the ritual performed every 2 days could count as the required method to prevent the ressurection... Since if it is not performed, he stays dead, right?

[Michael Hopcroft]

Re: Japanese Gothic

 

Having the ritual performed every 2 days could count as the required method to prevent the resurrection... Since if it is not performed' date=' he stays dead, right?[/quote']

 

It's worse than that from his perspective. The ritual must be performed every two days or he dies instantly. In effect, Hiroshi has become a sort of intelligent zombie, animated only by the will of his "creator" (Hime) but retaining his own mind and will (which means he knows his condition, and is capable of resenting it).

[Clonus]

Re: Japanese Gothic

 

I'm trying to figure out how to write up Hime and Hiroshi for HERO' date=' and Hiroshi's "half-immortality" presents a problem. Unless Hime neglects his recharges, Hiro can't die. You could cut his head off -- heck, you could grind him into hamburger or blast him into bite-sized chunks -- and he'd remain alive and Hime would be able to heal him to full strength (which, admittedly, isn't all that much). This breaks just about every character design rule in HERO..[/quote']

 

Doesn't Regeneration include a "from death" option? And he seemed to need a dose of her power to recover from being mangled by the werewolf.

[Michael Hopcroft]

Re: Japanese Gothic

 

The world is looking very interesting, if not necessarily logical. In the newest episode shown, we meet Leeza Wildman, a half-werewolf who wants to avenge the death of her full-blooded brother at Hime's hands. In game terms, should would probably have STR 40, a HKA with Reduced Penetration (claws), and some extra inches of Running, Only in Hero ID (she has to "were on", which gives her furry arms and legs, to use her powers, which is a zero-phase action). Evidently the weres of Hime's world have a very specific place and role, and a Bushido-like tendency to value honor and reputation over life.

 

The next episode preview promises an encounter with "Fish-men"; Deep Ones, anybody?