Hosokawa-Akechi Gracia ❝ガラシャ❞ (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
kagayakashi) wrote2013-04-25 06:07 pm
kagayakashi) wrote2013-04-25 06:07 pm
Entry tags:
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tushanshu application
Player Information:
Name: Lexi
Age: 20
Contact: Plurk, personal journal, email (singing.satellites@gmail.com)
Game Cast: N/A
Character Information:
Name: Hosokawa-Akechi Gracia (Note that from henceforth, all names will be written in their original order: last name, first name.)
Canon: Video-game; Samurai Warriors 3. (She makes her appearance in the expansion pack of the game, Samurai Warriors 3: Xtreme Legends)
Canon Point: During her escape from the Hosokawa mansion in Stage 4 of her story-mode, but before she discovers her Father is alive.
Age: Word of God says she is 18 years old.
Reference: This should cover it :)
Setting:
Gracia hails from the world of Samurai Warriors, which is a game that revolves around the Warring States Period of Japan. Created by KOEI, "SW" is a hack-n-slash genre type of video game that is based on actual historical events. There are very few strictly fantastical elements, but this much can be said; despite the historical setting, Samurai Warriors takes into account many supposedly fictional and nonexistent details too. (ex. The Sanada Ten Braves, who were ten individuals mostly unknown in detail, are included in the character roster in the forms of Sanada Yukimura and his partner Kunoichi.) Take note! The Warring States Period of Japan happened during the 16th-17th century, which says a lot of about weapons, tactics, speech, and culture. Basically, it's a fictionalized version of historical events that would eventually lead to the unification of Japan, under the Tokugawa banner. The game-play is linear and straight-forward, unlike an RPG where you get to roam around towns and castles according to your fancy, and the ultimate objective of majority of the stages involves total victory for the army the player is aligned with.
As for actual game-play, hack-n-slash really is the best way to describe it. You take a historical figure and fight your way against a horde of enemy peons and the occasionalLu Bu general or two. It doesn't take any complicated controls, and most critics would call games like SW one of those repetitive button-mashers. The game uses a musou system as well, and the musou is what counts as KOEI's version of Spirit Points or Special Attacks. Every character has a specific musou move that can only be used as soon as the bar for it is full. The True Musou, which is the final form and the more powered-up version of your character's special attack, can only be used if the Spirit Gauge is full. In RP-terms, the musou has been meant to signify something akin to mana, or spiritual energy. Maybe even "magic." Certainly some moves in the game look like forms of sorcery. And special moves that are also unique to every character sometimes take musou to use, so even if your character is physically the strongest, musou definitely comes in handy.
In terms of the actual story? Well, it's no surprise that everything seems to be taken straight out of the history books. Numerous military factions emerge with the singular desire to unite a disoriented and broken Japan under their banner and leadership. Samurai Warriors travels through time and relays what did happen, and what could have happened. There are no set heroes and villains; there are only perspectives and beliefs on who is the most fit to change Japan for generations to come. Samurai Warriors 3 categorizes stories according to three main events. Depending on who you choose to play as, at least one or two stages will be set in the Kanto campaign (which features the Uesugi, Takeda, and Hojo clans), the Three Unifiers race towards uniting Japan (Oda, Toyotomi, Tokugawa), and the Sekigahara skirmish (where the Tokugawa defend their stake on the land.) Fictionalized stages are also common, where you historical figures who weren't supposed to be there
On that note, SW narrates these events in a unique manner. First, the whole roster of 20+ playable characters each experience "history" differently. For every character chosen from the selection, the player must finish five stages. These vary accordingly, depending on the faction or allegiance the character follows. For example, Gracia's banner falls under the Oda first, then the independent Akechi, then for a time the Hojo, then the Hosokawa. Thus, her five stages would reflect on the battles that took place concerning those factions she served. However, the five stages she finishes at the end of her story will differ in many ways if you played another character, regardless if they shared her allegiances. There will be similarities, of course. You'd probably have the same stage and the same chain of events on an overall scale. The difference lies in that the historical figure chosen would have a bigger participation in the scenario as compared to how it happened when you were playing as somebody else. Think of it as sharing the spotlight! And because of this, there is no "set" canonical ending that can apply to every character, except for the facts that historically speaking, cannot be changed. But even that can be twisted, since in Oda Nobunaga's ending, it has happened on more than one occasion that he survived the night when he was supposed to die...This makes for interesting RP-interactions, because each character subscribes to an independent, personal time-line and sequence of events. While characters of close ties can share endings in one way or another, there is still that little fact of having their own "universe." For example, in Gracia's ending, her Father returns from being M.I.A. and rules Japan, whereas in Mitsuhide's ending, he allows Ieyasu to rule and quietly fades into the background.
The second thing that needs to be taken note of is that KOEI likes to spread out their series in expansion packs and sequels. And for every new game that comes out under the Samurai Warriors title, a little bit of history and the way characters immerse themselves in it change. The simplest way to put this is? SW constantly "retcons" information, though there's no way to tell what they'll change in the next installment until trailers and magazines come out. Gracia's first appearance was in Samurai Warriors 2: Xtreme Legends, but did not exist in Samurai Warriors 3. Instead, she returned in the Samurai Warriors 3: Xtreme Legends expansion. This means that if she were to encounter her Father in RP-land, and he came from the first title, he wouldn't know who she was even though she knows who he is. This kind of shifting of events and historical figures existing in one "universe" to another is kept intact if you just ignore trying to piece together everything in one timeline, and take each game, expansion pack, and character story-mode as its own established canon. ;) There is historical continuity that glues it all in one SW-verse, so it's all good.
It also makes for confusing fun-tiemz. Oh yes.
Personality:
Gracia is the young, cheerful, and rather innocent daughter of the infamous Oda general, Akechi Mitsuhide. Coming from her previous history in Samurai Warriors 2: Xtreme Legends, Gracia makes a return to the game's third installment as a sheltered individual who views the world with rose-colored glasses. Gracia treats Japan as an adventure to be trekked, in the sense that most of her actions are aimed towards trying to see and know as much of the land as she can. Her insatiable curiosity - that need to always ask "why?" - becomes one of her most definable and essential characteristics. She admits that she does not know much about anything beyond the walls of her home, and this desire to expand the horizons of her knowledge is what prompts her to run away in the first chapter of her story. More specifically, she wishes to answer the conundrum of waging war in order to stop war; why is it necessary to wield a sword if people wanted peace?
That being said, Gracia's naivete and curiosity are only aptly partnered with a subtly mischievous personality and a boldness that comes with either a lack of maturity, or from her unique perspective on life. This girl comes with a whole bundle of quirks, including a penchant for hiding inside boxes, making up monosyllabic nicknames, random speech tics and sounds, to fist-bumping her new friends. Gracia is lively and spirited when it comes to majority of the activities she performs, and this spark of life can either invigorate weary souls, or annoy the heck out of those with very little patience. These traits of hers emphasize how she is not afraid to ask the most daring or poignant questions, no matter the situation. On numerous occasions, Gracia has shown remarkable courage when it comes to demanding the truth from her enemies. She asks Hideyoshi his reasons for opposing her father as if they were not locked in a heated struggle and similarly, she asks Mitsunari - a Toyotomi retainer - why he allies himself with his lord. In Gracia's story-mode, her questions regarding the Oda's merciless execution of enemies who have already surrendered planted the seeds of doubt within Mitsuhide's mind. He begins to waver in his loyalties to Nobunaga, because Gracia could not understand why it was necessary to kill soldiers when they were already surrendering? Was this done for the good of land too?
To that extent, Gracia values kindness despite the troubled situations she encounters along her journey. While it could be that she inherited such a trait from Mitsuhide, who is a nonviolent soul in his own right, another defining characteristic she possess is her generous capacity for making friends of all kinds. During Mori Ranmaru's story-mode, which prominently features Gracia as one of his main allies, Gracia is visibly troubled when Ranmaru shows no concern for his own well-being. Gracia takes Ranmaru's dedication to his duties towards Nobunaga as a kind of loneliness, to which she immediately proposes to be his friend in order to keep an eye on him. When Ranmaru finally agrees to protect her with his life, Gracia finds the opportunity to tell him that if he wants to keep that promise to her, he must keep himself safe first.
This tells much about Gracia and how she treats the people she meets. Firstly, her boldness extends far beyond mere curiosity. She approaches strangers with as much openness and warmth as she would approach people she was already acquainted with, as shown with her rather informal manner of speaking to Ranmaru after their initial meeting (tackling to the ground and thigh-biting included, NO JOKE). Secondly, Gracia displays a strong sense of empathy, regardless if the person of her concern shares her sentiments or not. The best example to support this would naturally be her numerous declarations of friendship. Most of the time, Gracia's friendship is received as a one-sided affection, allowing almost anyone to be her friend without hesitation. Although these bonds eventually become stronger - evident with Magoichi, Ranmaru, and even Nene and Kaihime who only become her friends after going through battle with her - Gracia willingly risks her life for the other despite all dangers that come with it. Her creed is that "friends look out for each other," and that "they risk their lives for one another." This is what drives her relationship with Ranmaru, even to the point where she would rather die than see Ranmaru's actions push him to his own end. She feels much responsibility and emotion for her friends, and is selfless in helping them to achieve their goals and overcoming their hurdles. At the same time, she puts her complete trust in them, never doubting if they will come to her aid should the need arise. However, it can become a fault in that she will put her emotions first, before she considers reason. She has a tendency to follow her gut without thinking about what it will mean in the long run. While this has its upsides, Gracia is usually reprimanded for endangering herself for the the wrong things.
But in Gracia's own story-mode, it becomes incredibly clear that what really motivates Gracia above all else is the desire to see her Father's dream come true. In many ways, Gracia is the canon's mascot-Daddy's Girl. Her dedication and commitment to Mitsuhide is presented in the game to an almost extreme manner. While it is true that she goes out into the world in order to find out more about the war and what it takes to end it, she is also working upon the assumption that her Father's dream for a "gentle land" is the undeniable standard for unification. Whatever boldness and fighting spirit she exhibits in other stories and stages become the most prominent when she fights for Mitsuhide. She looks up to him, and sees him as an infallible guide; in his daughter's eyes, he can never be wrong. This is what leads most of her inner conflict in the game, piquing at the end of the skirmish at Yamazaki, when Hashiba Hideyoshi avenges the death of Nobunaga by engaging the Akechi army. Mitsuhide's protectiveness for Gracia is put aside so that she may help Motochika fend off Kuroda Kanbei's incoming assault. When Mitsuhide tells her that he trusts her strength, Gracia participates with even more gusto. However, when both her anchors of strength disappear - one when her Father mysteriously vanishes from the battlefield, and two when Chosokabe Motochika dies - Gracia's emotional stability slowly collapses. Was her Father's pursuit for a gentle land wrong? Was that the reason why Hideyoshi was the victor? She begins to see the Toyotomi as the enemy, and is spiteful towards their efforts to unite the land. Furthermore, Gracia spirals into depression whilst living in her husband's manor. (She became a married woman fairly early into her story-mode, after the first stage.) As Hosokawa Tadaoki himself is plagued with issues regarding his traitorous wife's actions and how he cannot seem to kill her, Gracia begins to act without reason in mind, running away numerous times in order to solve the puzzles that have suddenly appeared before her. With an unshakable faith in Mitsuhide, she searches for his whereabouts and defies the Toyotomi whenever she can, believing them to be responsible for what happened.
Furthermore, she wishes to find more answers about war and how to end it. Is a "gentle land" still possible? What is she to do now, without her Father's guidance?
It is in these stages of her story-mode that the player can see the best and worst of her strengths and weaknesses. On the one hand, Gracia's steadfast and loyal nature is easily drawn out in her bonds with her family. Friendship aside, Gracia places Mitsuhide and Motochika at her top priority, panicking when they are in danger, and looking to them for guidance and answers. She comes through for them even though she is repeatedly told not to help in the rebellion against the Oda. Additionally, she does not seem to mind breaking or bending rules placed upon her if it means she is able to help her most cherished persons in their efforts for peace. In a notable cut-scene, Gracia openly defies her husband, telling him that even though they are married, she is still an Akechi, now and forevermore. For Gracia, Mitsuhide is most definitely not a traitor, and she spends the rest of her story-mode searching for answers on what she must do now that Mitsuhide is gone, and if she is right in her believing in the "gentle land" under Mitsuhide's vision. On the other hand, Gracia seems to lack the foresight and maturity that is demanded of her. She does not think with her mind, oftentimes excusing her actions in her pursuit for knowledge. She doesn't seem to consider that for everything she does, there are sure to be consequences that follow. Gracia also lacks the proper motivation, leaning far too much on the dreams and aspirations of her Father instead of finding her own path in life. Eventually, she does come to terms with living for the future and fighting for a peaceful land that she wants to see thanks to Kaihime and Nene's friendship. However, it is Mitsuhide's return that settles Gracia into a state of contentment and stability once more. Her naivete also has its fault, as she can be quite demanding of the truth from other people, sometimes to the point where she relies on their answers far more than she would with answers she came upon on her own.
All in all, Gracia is still very much a child. Though she denies this during the very first cutscene in the game, it is clear that Gracia has a ways to go before she can fully understand the complexities of war, as well as the darker side of life. Again, she sees things from a very innocent perspective. There are factors in decision-making Gracia cannot comprehend, due to lack of experience or because of her attachment to Mitsuhide. That in itself, is both endearing and frightening - she will fight to the death for her Father, yet without him, she becomes lost and without direction. She turns narrow-minded in trying to understand why her Father's enemies fight for peace. Her innocence can also lead her on a dangerous path, as she doesn't realize she is being fooled until it may be too late. Coupled with the great amount of trust she puts in people, it may lead to her own disappointments. Even worse, Gracia can be slightly spiteful if anyone ever went out of their way to hurt people she holds dear. It is a type of grief that comes without malice; she does it to protect the beliefs that have kept her going for so long. And despite her often consistently high-spirits, Gracia can also experience bouts of depression and confusion when she is left to pick up the pieces of unfortunate events. But on the plus side, she is also incredibly generous, warm, and expresses the same amount of loyalty and care for her friends as she would exhibit around Mitsuhide and Motochika. This inherent devotion that she freely gives to whoever needs a pal is what offsets her faults. She will be the last person to stop believing in somebody, regardless if everything has turned against them. She carries with her an unwavering strength to keep moving, and to never stop trying to understand why things come as they do. She helps carry the heaviest of burdens at the cost of her own safety, and she does this wholeheartedly. Gracia is far from the perfect companion, but she does make for a very valuable ally. She is always ready to see new things, meet new people, go to new places, and has her foot out the door into the strange yet wonderful world.
Having said all that, Gracia won't respond too nicely to the idea of being sent into a world that floats between life and death. As far as her memory serves, she was well and alive, busy trying to escape the mansion from the Western coalition's assault. Questions would plague her immediately; "what happened?", "is this a trap?", "how do I return home?"... Most importantly of all, "what would Father do in such a situation?" At the point where she is being taken from canon, Gracia would have grown to some extent, yet has yet to realize that her thoughts are never too far away from her Father's well-being. But after all her initial fretting, she'll calm down and get distracted with the magnificence and familiar splendor found in the sectors of Keeliai. It's in her nature to be curious, after all; to know more about the unknown. Perhaps it may even occur to her that her Father is in the city, considering the mystery of his disappearance? Maybe even Motochika, whose rebellious spirit has yet to move into the realm of the dead...?
Appearance: Straight from the canon's official art-book. This is how her CG-render looks like within the game.
Abilities: As a KOEI warrior, Gracia is by default, trained in some level of proficient physical combat. However, she mentions in Samurai Warriors: Chronicles that she isn't very fond of using weapons like swords and naginata's due to them being "too heavy" for her, so she mainly fights bare-handed. She uses a pair of magical bracelets as her primary weapons. Her style of fighting is similar to karate, but she makes use of strong straight punches and elbow jabs instead of chops and tackles. The downside to her fighting style is the lack of range, and that she can miss her target easily because the move-set is not as flexible as compared to if she held a longer weapon. Moreover, Gracia's physical attack power is very weak, and she is considered one of the slower characters as well.
Her specialties are more oriented towards utilizing musou. In Samurai Warriors 2 and 3, Gracia holds the record of having one of the highest and strongest musous. Her regular musou attack involves stunning the enemy with a barrage of laser beams that come out from her fists. She stays in place and is able to rotate herself so her lasers hit more than one person. Her final musou is very similar to Goku's "Genki Dama" or "Spirit Bomb." After her laser beams, she gathers a great amount of energy in the form of a giant ball above her head. She then promptly throws this to the ground, decimating enemies caught in the circle. (I think this image summarizes that pretty well.)
Having such a powerful musou at her disposal, Gracia can also make up for her rigid regular move-set with powerful charge attacks. If integrated into her regular move-set, Gracia's attacks can gain fire, ice, wind, or light attributes. (In fact, many players see her as a force to be reckoned with on a horse, because her charge statistics are so strong. Her regular attacks if she is on horse are fireballs!) In Warriors Orochi 3 and Samurai Warriors 3, her charge attacks are more focused on imbuing her move-set with light and dark energy, including shock-waves and light beams bursting from the ground. These are not extremely fatal, but are enough to break enemy momentum.
Finally, Gracia's special moves (which is different from the musou attack) allow her the closest this canon can get to performing sorcery or magic. Offensively, Gracia can summon fireballs, a rain of icicles, and a wind-attributed beam. Defensively, Gracia is able to heal a small amount of her health if she is hurt, create a shield that makes her invulnerable for about ten seconds, and can boost her physical stats temporarily so that she is twice as strong. Again, this is where she is most proficient, and most players tend to use her charge attacks and special skills instead of pure melee moves to win a fight.
Inventory:
- Clothes on her back (complete with hair accessories and what not)
- A pair of bracelets a.k.a. her weapons.
Suite: Gracia would definitely do well living in the Wood Suite, with two floors for extra room and space. She's the kind of person who enjoys surrounding herself with the great outdoors, and is a pretty active and energetic. She'd make lots of use with swinging from the trees, and just all around exploring the whole Wood Sector from top to bottom! ♥Also, this supports her fixation with boxes because boxes are usually made out of wood so yes, this is perfect.
In-Character Samples:
Third Person:
After she combed through her Father's long, silky tresses, she returned his ivory comb and was met with his gentle smile. He nodded to the direction of the window and told her that the blossoms were falling.
With wide eyes, Gracia hurriedly made her way outside, unaware of Mitsuhide's disapproval when she jumped out the window in order to do so. He kept watch over her as she ran to the middle of the garden, her arms spread to her sides like a butterfly in flight.
Flowers held infinite appeal for the young woman, who was quite busy spinning in circles, head tilted up towards the sky. When the blossoms were but mere buds shut tightly within themselves, Gracia watched them in anticipation, keeping her company during cold winter mornings. As soon as they opened at the break of spring, Gracia would be the first to know. For many, the first sight of flowers meant the coming of a new war; another battle to be fought. But she never understood how something so precious could be considered a herald for destruction.
She smiled widely when a particularly bright pink petal landed on the tip of her nose. Gracia laughed and placed her hands behind her back, relishing the atmosphere. She missed out on the sadness in her Father's gaze as he watched her walk farther and farther away from his sights; he sighed to himself when she missed a step and almost fell ungracefully to her bottom.
Mitsuhide was a warrior, a samurai. Spring would always hold some poetic sentiment, but he knew that for every sunset that came to pass, the bloodshed beyond the walls of his home was just as imminent. Gracia would ask about it all the time, as soon as he returned home from the Oda's latest campaign. She had always been dreadfully curious about how things fared outside. And Mitsuhide would sigh, touch her hair, and draw her close. His answers were as gentle as he could say without seeming like he was lying to her. In response, Gracia would smile and encourage him to keep doing his best. Maybe there was a part of him that missed out on a secret deeper understanding she kept to herself, but for all his words he knew that she was worried about him.
It frightened him. He wanted her safe.
Gracia, however, knew her time was coming closer and closer. As she held her palm out for more blossoms to fall unto, she imagined what it would be like fighting side-by-side with her Father. To finally use what he taught her to good use. To see what it was really like with her own two eyes. But most of all, Gracia wanted to know. While she never took her Father's words lightly, she was certain there was more to it than what he said. It was instinct, akin to a story-book unfolding right before her, yet knowing in her heart that there was a bigger picture behind the hero saving the maiden from an eight-headed serpent.
She imagined it something like spring. How flowers would begin their journey closed off from the world, only to slowly emerge into the light, brightening life with color. She would find the opportunity, and she would do it soon. How she'd sneak away, she wasn't quite sure. But as she glanced back at her Father, whose expression was always so worried for what lied ahead, Gracia determined to find a way into the battlefield. For his sake, and for hers. What was wrong with having more allies? And to have someone you love be by your side at that? It excited her, but she had to keep quiet about it because he would never let her do such a thing.
Today, though, she decided to try her luck at climbing a tree. Her laugh was carried along the breeze, and Mitsuhide stood careful guard over his mischievous daughter. When he ran to her as she dangled precariously off of a branch, he worried even more for the dangers to come. Surely, the chaos of the land would not spare her.
Yet he hoped.
And one day, he wanted her to understand why flowers were truly beautiful. Not merely for their color, or their scent, or the feel of them falling against youthful skin. They were beautiful because they would wilt eventually, and that fleeting beauty in an oftentimes dreary world was what kept people fighting for a better tomorrow.
But she saw none of that, and Gracia could only wish for another spring; to watch the buds blossom in winter, and to play again when the petals fell the next year.
That was how it all worked, right?
Network:
[ There's some commotion behind the console, with several kedan ushering a rather animated red-headed girl over this way and that. She was making a fuss over something, but in all the ruckus, there's hardly a coherent word that stands out. Eventually, the woman finds herself seated and a pretty face comes up the feed. She's out of breath, but her eyes are wide, as if she just found out a terrible secret.
What's she about to say that's so important to cause trouble...?
She holds her hands up and promptly ignores the strangest technology she has ever seen in her whole life, for now, because there is something much more pressing to attend to. ]
Huwah! Everyone who can hear me! Listen, please! [ She shakes her head and glances around and about her. It looks like she's about to explode from...a flurry of emotions. ]
We're on a turtle! A giant turtle!
[ She makes an incoherent sound of joy (?) and her hands jolt up to the side of her face. She breaks eye-contact with the console, and seems to be speaking more to herself now... ]
Ooh, somebody tell me how this is happening! I've never even seen a turtle before, only in pictures! What should I do? Pet it? Feed it? Oh, apologize to it, maybe...?
[ Yeah, this is as most as you'll get from Gracia right now. ]
Name: Lexi
Age: 20
Contact: Plurk, personal journal, email (singing.satellites@gmail.com)
Game Cast: N/A
Character Information:
Name: Hosokawa-Akechi Gracia (Note that from henceforth, all names will be written in their original order: last name, first name.)
Canon: Video-game; Samurai Warriors 3. (She makes her appearance in the expansion pack of the game, Samurai Warriors 3: Xtreme Legends)
Canon Point: During her escape from the Hosokawa mansion in Stage 4 of her story-mode, but before she discovers her Father is alive.
Age: Word of God says she is 18 years old.
Reference: This should cover it :)
Setting:
Gracia hails from the world of Samurai Warriors, which is a game that revolves around the Warring States Period of Japan. Created by KOEI, "SW" is a hack-n-slash genre type of video game that is based on actual historical events. There are very few strictly fantastical elements, but this much can be said; despite the historical setting, Samurai Warriors takes into account many supposedly fictional and nonexistent details too. (ex. The Sanada Ten Braves, who were ten individuals mostly unknown in detail, are included in the character roster in the forms of Sanada Yukimura and his partner Kunoichi.) Take note! The Warring States Period of Japan happened during the 16th-17th century, which says a lot of about weapons, tactics, speech, and culture. Basically, it's a fictionalized version of historical events that would eventually lead to the unification of Japan, under the Tokugawa banner. The game-play is linear and straight-forward, unlike an RPG where you get to roam around towns and castles according to your fancy, and the ultimate objective of majority of the stages involves total victory for the army the player is aligned with.
As for actual game-play, hack-n-slash really is the best way to describe it. You take a historical figure and fight your way against a horde of enemy peons and the occasional
In terms of the actual story? Well, it's no surprise that everything seems to be taken straight out of the history books. Numerous military factions emerge with the singular desire to unite a disoriented and broken Japan under their banner and leadership. Samurai Warriors travels through time and relays what did happen, and what could have happened. There are no set heroes and villains; there are only perspectives and beliefs on who is the most fit to change Japan for generations to come. Samurai Warriors 3 categorizes stories according to three main events. Depending on who you choose to play as, at least one or two stages will be set in the Kanto campaign (which features the Uesugi, Takeda, and Hojo clans), the Three Unifiers race towards uniting Japan (Oda, Toyotomi, Tokugawa), and the Sekigahara skirmish (where the Tokugawa defend their stake on the land.) Fictionalized stages are also common, where you historical figures who weren't supposed to be there
On that note, SW narrates these events in a unique manner. First, the whole roster of 20+ playable characters each experience "history" differently. For every character chosen from the selection, the player must finish five stages. These vary accordingly, depending on the faction or allegiance the character follows. For example, Gracia's banner falls under the Oda first, then the independent Akechi, then for a time the Hojo, then the Hosokawa. Thus, her five stages would reflect on the battles that took place concerning those factions she served. However, the five stages she finishes at the end of her story will differ in many ways if you played another character, regardless if they shared her allegiances. There will be similarities, of course. You'd probably have the same stage and the same chain of events on an overall scale. The difference lies in that the historical figure chosen would have a bigger participation in the scenario as compared to how it happened when you were playing as somebody else. Think of it as sharing the spotlight! And because of this, there is no "set" canonical ending that can apply to every character, except for the facts that historically speaking, cannot be changed. But even that can be twisted, since in Oda Nobunaga's ending, it has happened on more than one occasion that he survived the night when he was supposed to die...This makes for interesting RP-interactions, because each character subscribes to an independent, personal time-line and sequence of events. While characters of close ties can share endings in one way or another, there is still that little fact of having their own "universe." For example, in Gracia's ending, her Father returns from being M.I.A. and rules Japan, whereas in Mitsuhide's ending, he allows Ieyasu to rule and quietly fades into the background.
The second thing that needs to be taken note of is that KOEI likes to spread out their series in expansion packs and sequels. And for every new game that comes out under the Samurai Warriors title, a little bit of history and the way characters immerse themselves in it change. The simplest way to put this is? SW constantly "retcons" information, though there's no way to tell what they'll change in the next installment until trailers and magazines come out. Gracia's first appearance was in Samurai Warriors 2: Xtreme Legends, but did not exist in Samurai Warriors 3. Instead, she returned in the Samurai Warriors 3: Xtreme Legends expansion. This means that if she were to encounter her Father in RP-land, and he came from the first title, he wouldn't know who she was even though she knows who he is. This kind of shifting of events and historical figures existing in one "universe" to another is kept intact if you just ignore trying to piece together everything in one timeline, and take each game, expansion pack, and character story-mode as its own established canon. ;) There is historical continuity that glues it all in one SW-verse, so it's all good.
Personality:
Gracia is the young, cheerful, and rather innocent daughter of the infamous Oda general, Akechi Mitsuhide. Coming from her previous history in Samurai Warriors 2: Xtreme Legends, Gracia makes a return to the game's third installment as a sheltered individual who views the world with rose-colored glasses. Gracia treats Japan as an adventure to be trekked, in the sense that most of her actions are aimed towards trying to see and know as much of the land as she can. Her insatiable curiosity - that need to always ask "why?" - becomes one of her most definable and essential characteristics. She admits that she does not know much about anything beyond the walls of her home, and this desire to expand the horizons of her knowledge is what prompts her to run away in the first chapter of her story. More specifically, she wishes to answer the conundrum of waging war in order to stop war; why is it necessary to wield a sword if people wanted peace?
That being said, Gracia's naivete and curiosity are only aptly partnered with a subtly mischievous personality and a boldness that comes with either a lack of maturity, or from her unique perspective on life. This girl comes with a whole bundle of quirks, including a penchant for hiding inside boxes, making up monosyllabic nicknames, random speech tics and sounds, to fist-bumping her new friends. Gracia is lively and spirited when it comes to majority of the activities she performs, and this spark of life can either invigorate weary souls, or annoy the heck out of those with very little patience. These traits of hers emphasize how she is not afraid to ask the most daring or poignant questions, no matter the situation. On numerous occasions, Gracia has shown remarkable courage when it comes to demanding the truth from her enemies. She asks Hideyoshi his reasons for opposing her father as if they were not locked in a heated struggle and similarly, she asks Mitsunari - a Toyotomi retainer - why he allies himself with his lord. In Gracia's story-mode, her questions regarding the Oda's merciless execution of enemies who have already surrendered planted the seeds of doubt within Mitsuhide's mind. He begins to waver in his loyalties to Nobunaga, because Gracia could not understand why it was necessary to kill soldiers when they were already surrendering? Was this done for the good of land too?
To that extent, Gracia values kindness despite the troubled situations she encounters along her journey. While it could be that she inherited such a trait from Mitsuhide, who is a nonviolent soul in his own right, another defining characteristic she possess is her generous capacity for making friends of all kinds. During Mori Ranmaru's story-mode, which prominently features Gracia as one of his main allies, Gracia is visibly troubled when Ranmaru shows no concern for his own well-being. Gracia takes Ranmaru's dedication to his duties towards Nobunaga as a kind of loneliness, to which she immediately proposes to be his friend in order to keep an eye on him. When Ranmaru finally agrees to protect her with his life, Gracia finds the opportunity to tell him that if he wants to keep that promise to her, he must keep himself safe first.
This tells much about Gracia and how she treats the people she meets. Firstly, her boldness extends far beyond mere curiosity. She approaches strangers with as much openness and warmth as she would approach people she was already acquainted with, as shown with her rather informal manner of speaking to Ranmaru after their initial meeting (tackling to the ground and thigh-biting included, NO JOKE). Secondly, Gracia displays a strong sense of empathy, regardless if the person of her concern shares her sentiments or not. The best example to support this would naturally be her numerous declarations of friendship. Most of the time, Gracia's friendship is received as a one-sided affection, allowing almost anyone to be her friend without hesitation. Although these bonds eventually become stronger - evident with Magoichi, Ranmaru, and even Nene and Kaihime who only become her friends after going through battle with her - Gracia willingly risks her life for the other despite all dangers that come with it. Her creed is that "friends look out for each other," and that "they risk their lives for one another." This is what drives her relationship with Ranmaru, even to the point where she would rather die than see Ranmaru's actions push him to his own end. She feels much responsibility and emotion for her friends, and is selfless in helping them to achieve their goals and overcoming their hurdles. At the same time, she puts her complete trust in them, never doubting if they will come to her aid should the need arise. However, it can become a fault in that she will put her emotions first, before she considers reason. She has a tendency to follow her gut without thinking about what it will mean in the long run. While this has its upsides, Gracia is usually reprimanded for endangering herself for the the wrong things.
But in Gracia's own story-mode, it becomes incredibly clear that what really motivates Gracia above all else is the desire to see her Father's dream come true. In many ways, Gracia is the canon's mascot-Daddy's Girl. Her dedication and commitment to Mitsuhide is presented in the game to an almost extreme manner. While it is true that she goes out into the world in order to find out more about the war and what it takes to end it, she is also working upon the assumption that her Father's dream for a "gentle land" is the undeniable standard for unification. Whatever boldness and fighting spirit she exhibits in other stories and stages become the most prominent when she fights for Mitsuhide. She looks up to him, and sees him as an infallible guide; in his daughter's eyes, he can never be wrong. This is what leads most of her inner conflict in the game, piquing at the end of the skirmish at Yamazaki, when Hashiba Hideyoshi avenges the death of Nobunaga by engaging the Akechi army. Mitsuhide's protectiveness for Gracia is put aside so that she may help Motochika fend off Kuroda Kanbei's incoming assault. When Mitsuhide tells her that he trusts her strength, Gracia participates with even more gusto. However, when both her anchors of strength disappear - one when her Father mysteriously vanishes from the battlefield, and two when Chosokabe Motochika dies - Gracia's emotional stability slowly collapses. Was her Father's pursuit for a gentle land wrong? Was that the reason why Hideyoshi was the victor? She begins to see the Toyotomi as the enemy, and is spiteful towards their efforts to unite the land. Furthermore, Gracia spirals into depression whilst living in her husband's manor. (She became a married woman fairly early into her story-mode, after the first stage.) As Hosokawa Tadaoki himself is plagued with issues regarding his traitorous wife's actions and how he cannot seem to kill her, Gracia begins to act without reason in mind, running away numerous times in order to solve the puzzles that have suddenly appeared before her. With an unshakable faith in Mitsuhide, she searches for his whereabouts and defies the Toyotomi whenever she can, believing them to be responsible for what happened.
Furthermore, she wishes to find more answers about war and how to end it. Is a "gentle land" still possible? What is she to do now, without her Father's guidance?
It is in these stages of her story-mode that the player can see the best and worst of her strengths and weaknesses. On the one hand, Gracia's steadfast and loyal nature is easily drawn out in her bonds with her family. Friendship aside, Gracia places Mitsuhide and Motochika at her top priority, panicking when they are in danger, and looking to them for guidance and answers. She comes through for them even though she is repeatedly told not to help in the rebellion against the Oda. Additionally, she does not seem to mind breaking or bending rules placed upon her if it means she is able to help her most cherished persons in their efforts for peace. In a notable cut-scene, Gracia openly defies her husband, telling him that even though they are married, she is still an Akechi, now and forevermore. For Gracia, Mitsuhide is most definitely not a traitor, and she spends the rest of her story-mode searching for answers on what she must do now that Mitsuhide is gone, and if she is right in her believing in the "gentle land" under Mitsuhide's vision. On the other hand, Gracia seems to lack the foresight and maturity that is demanded of her. She does not think with her mind, oftentimes excusing her actions in her pursuit for knowledge. She doesn't seem to consider that for everything she does, there are sure to be consequences that follow. Gracia also lacks the proper motivation, leaning far too much on the dreams and aspirations of her Father instead of finding her own path in life. Eventually, she does come to terms with living for the future and fighting for a peaceful land that she wants to see thanks to Kaihime and Nene's friendship. However, it is Mitsuhide's return that settles Gracia into a state of contentment and stability once more. Her naivete also has its fault, as she can be quite demanding of the truth from other people, sometimes to the point where she relies on their answers far more than she would with answers she came upon on her own.
All in all, Gracia is still very much a child. Though she denies this during the very first cutscene in the game, it is clear that Gracia has a ways to go before she can fully understand the complexities of war, as well as the darker side of life. Again, she sees things from a very innocent perspective. There are factors in decision-making Gracia cannot comprehend, due to lack of experience or because of her attachment to Mitsuhide. That in itself, is both endearing and frightening - she will fight to the death for her Father, yet without him, she becomes lost and without direction. She turns narrow-minded in trying to understand why her Father's enemies fight for peace. Her innocence can also lead her on a dangerous path, as she doesn't realize she is being fooled until it may be too late. Coupled with the great amount of trust she puts in people, it may lead to her own disappointments. Even worse, Gracia can be slightly spiteful if anyone ever went out of their way to hurt people she holds dear. It is a type of grief that comes without malice; she does it to protect the beliefs that have kept her going for so long. And despite her often consistently high-spirits, Gracia can also experience bouts of depression and confusion when she is left to pick up the pieces of unfortunate events. But on the plus side, she is also incredibly generous, warm, and expresses the same amount of loyalty and care for her friends as she would exhibit around Mitsuhide and Motochika. This inherent devotion that she freely gives to whoever needs a pal is what offsets her faults. She will be the last person to stop believing in somebody, regardless if everything has turned against them. She carries with her an unwavering strength to keep moving, and to never stop trying to understand why things come as they do. She helps carry the heaviest of burdens at the cost of her own safety, and she does this wholeheartedly. Gracia is far from the perfect companion, but she does make for a very valuable ally. She is always ready to see new things, meet new people, go to new places, and has her foot out the door into the strange yet wonderful world.
Having said all that, Gracia won't respond too nicely to the idea of being sent into a world that floats between life and death. As far as her memory serves, she was well and alive, busy trying to escape the mansion from the Western coalition's assault. Questions would plague her immediately; "what happened?", "is this a trap?", "how do I return home?"... Most importantly of all, "what would Father do in such a situation?" At the point where she is being taken from canon, Gracia would have grown to some extent, yet has yet to realize that her thoughts are never too far away from her Father's well-being. But after all her initial fretting, she'll calm down and get distracted with the magnificence and familiar splendor found in the sectors of Keeliai. It's in her nature to be curious, after all; to know more about the unknown. Perhaps it may even occur to her that her Father is in the city, considering the mystery of his disappearance? Maybe even Motochika, whose rebellious spirit has yet to move into the realm of the dead...?
Appearance: Straight from the canon's official art-book. This is how her CG-render looks like within the game.
Abilities: As a KOEI warrior, Gracia is by default, trained in some level of proficient physical combat. However, she mentions in Samurai Warriors: Chronicles that she isn't very fond of using weapons like swords and naginata's due to them being "too heavy" for her, so she mainly fights bare-handed. She uses a pair of magical bracelets as her primary weapons. Her style of fighting is similar to karate, but she makes use of strong straight punches and elbow jabs instead of chops and tackles. The downside to her fighting style is the lack of range, and that she can miss her target easily because the move-set is not as flexible as compared to if she held a longer weapon. Moreover, Gracia's physical attack power is very weak, and she is considered one of the slower characters as well.
Her specialties are more oriented towards utilizing musou. In Samurai Warriors 2 and 3, Gracia holds the record of having one of the highest and strongest musous. Her regular musou attack involves stunning the enemy with a barrage of laser beams that come out from her fists. She stays in place and is able to rotate herself so her lasers hit more than one person. Her final musou is very similar to Goku's "Genki Dama" or "Spirit Bomb." After her laser beams, she gathers a great amount of energy in the form of a giant ball above her head. She then promptly throws this to the ground, decimating enemies caught in the circle. (I think this image summarizes that pretty well.)
Having such a powerful musou at her disposal, Gracia can also make up for her rigid regular move-set with powerful charge attacks. If integrated into her regular move-set, Gracia's attacks can gain fire, ice, wind, or light attributes. (In fact, many players see her as a force to be reckoned with on a horse, because her charge statistics are so strong. Her regular attacks if she is on horse are fireballs!) In Warriors Orochi 3 and Samurai Warriors 3, her charge attacks are more focused on imbuing her move-set with light and dark energy, including shock-waves and light beams bursting from the ground. These are not extremely fatal, but are enough to break enemy momentum.
Finally, Gracia's special moves (which is different from the musou attack) allow her the closest this canon can get to performing sorcery or magic. Offensively, Gracia can summon fireballs, a rain of icicles, and a wind-attributed beam. Defensively, Gracia is able to heal a small amount of her health if she is hurt, create a shield that makes her invulnerable for about ten seconds, and can boost her physical stats temporarily so that she is twice as strong. Again, this is where she is most proficient, and most players tend to use her charge attacks and special skills instead of pure melee moves to win a fight.
Inventory:
- Clothes on her back (complete with hair accessories and what not)
- A pair of bracelets a.k.a. her weapons.
Suite: Gracia would definitely do well living in the Wood Suite, with two floors for extra room and space. She's the kind of person who enjoys surrounding herself with the great outdoors, and is a pretty active and energetic. She'd make lots of use with swinging from the trees, and just all around exploring the whole Wood Sector from top to bottom! ♥
In-Character Samples:
Third Person:
After she combed through her Father's long, silky tresses, she returned his ivory comb and was met with his gentle smile. He nodded to the direction of the window and told her that the blossoms were falling.
With wide eyes, Gracia hurriedly made her way outside, unaware of Mitsuhide's disapproval when she jumped out the window in order to do so. He kept watch over her as she ran to the middle of the garden, her arms spread to her sides like a butterfly in flight.
Flowers held infinite appeal for the young woman, who was quite busy spinning in circles, head tilted up towards the sky. When the blossoms were but mere buds shut tightly within themselves, Gracia watched them in anticipation, keeping her company during cold winter mornings. As soon as they opened at the break of spring, Gracia would be the first to know. For many, the first sight of flowers meant the coming of a new war; another battle to be fought. But she never understood how something so precious could be considered a herald for destruction.
She smiled widely when a particularly bright pink petal landed on the tip of her nose. Gracia laughed and placed her hands behind her back, relishing the atmosphere. She missed out on the sadness in her Father's gaze as he watched her walk farther and farther away from his sights; he sighed to himself when she missed a step and almost fell ungracefully to her bottom.
Mitsuhide was a warrior, a samurai. Spring would always hold some poetic sentiment, but he knew that for every sunset that came to pass, the bloodshed beyond the walls of his home was just as imminent. Gracia would ask about it all the time, as soon as he returned home from the Oda's latest campaign. She had always been dreadfully curious about how things fared outside. And Mitsuhide would sigh, touch her hair, and draw her close. His answers were as gentle as he could say without seeming like he was lying to her. In response, Gracia would smile and encourage him to keep doing his best. Maybe there was a part of him that missed out on a secret deeper understanding she kept to herself, but for all his words he knew that she was worried about him.
It frightened him. He wanted her safe.
Gracia, however, knew her time was coming closer and closer. As she held her palm out for more blossoms to fall unto, she imagined what it would be like fighting side-by-side with her Father. To finally use what he taught her to good use. To see what it was really like with her own two eyes. But most of all, Gracia wanted to know. While she never took her Father's words lightly, she was certain there was more to it than what he said. It was instinct, akin to a story-book unfolding right before her, yet knowing in her heart that there was a bigger picture behind the hero saving the maiden from an eight-headed serpent.
She imagined it something like spring. How flowers would begin their journey closed off from the world, only to slowly emerge into the light, brightening life with color. She would find the opportunity, and she would do it soon. How she'd sneak away, she wasn't quite sure. But as she glanced back at her Father, whose expression was always so worried for what lied ahead, Gracia determined to find a way into the battlefield. For his sake, and for hers. What was wrong with having more allies? And to have someone you love be by your side at that? It excited her, but she had to keep quiet about it because he would never let her do such a thing.
Today, though, she decided to try her luck at climbing a tree. Her laugh was carried along the breeze, and Mitsuhide stood careful guard over his mischievous daughter. When he ran to her as she dangled precariously off of a branch, he worried even more for the dangers to come. Surely, the chaos of the land would not spare her.
Yet he hoped.
And one day, he wanted her to understand why flowers were truly beautiful. Not merely for their color, or their scent, or the feel of them falling against youthful skin. They were beautiful because they would wilt eventually, and that fleeting beauty in an oftentimes dreary world was what kept people fighting for a better tomorrow.
But she saw none of that, and Gracia could only wish for another spring; to watch the buds blossom in winter, and to play again when the petals fell the next year.
That was how it all worked, right?
Network:
[ There's some commotion behind the console, with several kedan ushering a rather animated red-headed girl over this way and that. She was making a fuss over something, but in all the ruckus, there's hardly a coherent word that stands out. Eventually, the woman finds herself seated and a pretty face comes up the feed. She's out of breath, but her eyes are wide, as if she just found out a terrible secret.
What's she about to say that's so important to cause trouble...?
She holds her hands up and promptly ignores the strangest technology she has ever seen in her whole life, for now, because there is something much more pressing to attend to. ]
Huwah! Everyone who can hear me! Listen, please! [ She shakes her head and glances around and about her. It looks like she's about to explode from...a flurry of emotions. ]
We're on a turtle! A giant turtle!
[ She makes an incoherent sound of joy (?) and her hands jolt up to the side of her face. She breaks eye-contact with the console, and seems to be speaking more to herself now... ]
Ooh, somebody tell me how this is happening! I've never even seen a turtle before, only in pictures! What should I do? Pet it? Feed it? Oh, apologize to it, maybe...?
[ Yeah, this is as most as you'll get from Gracia right now. ]