MASAMUNE: Ryoku

[Masamune]

Ryoku
jealous cousin

The cousin of Masamune Hoji, and their instigator of a one-sided rivalry. Ever since Hoji's talent for swordmaking was discovered and he was named the successor of Okazaki Masamune he has been jealous. Being the same age he always felt that it was him that deserved the title of the true successor. He has challenged his cousin time and time again to contests in swordmaking to prove that he was worthy of the title. However, he'd always wind up losing to Hoji no matter how hard he tried. His bitterness only grew with time, and soon would begin to poison his mind. When Hoji left their family's compound he hoped that people that came would realize the beauty of his work. This would not be the case as they only wanted swords crafted by Masamune's successor. They would buy his swords, but not before brushing them off as merely second rate -- despite the fact that they were better than most swords.

Finally reaching his breaking point Ryoku left the family's compound as well. No longer able to bear the burden of being second to his cousin any more he traveled the world. He sought ways to improve his skills, but everywhere he turned and no matter what he did it just wasn't enough. Soon he came across a mysterious man, who offered him a sword -- claiming that it was much better than anything Hoji could produce. Ryoku, never having seen a sword of such a calibur unless it was a Masamune original, graciously accepted. With his newfound blade he has gone on a journey to seek out his cousin, and challenge him. If the sword he recieved could best his cousin then he would go back to the man for training. If not, he'd continue his quest to become a better swordsmith.

Equipment:

Gochi Fuyu
^{[ 5000 Winters ]}
This sword is a replicant of the Muramasa original Jūchi Fuyu, Ten-thousand Winters. It is nowhere near as good a sword as the one it is based off of, but it still far superior to any standard blade. Like its parent blade the Gochi Fuyu has a cutting ability that far surpasses what many swordsmen could even phathom. It cleaves boulders with ease, and slices through steel like nothing. The downside with this spectacular blade is that it is a very evil sword. Once withdrawn from its scabbard it will not return until it has drawn blood or taken a life. Gradually, the sword also seems to have started to possess Ryoku, sometimes driving him into crazed murderous fits of rage.