❝ In every game, the journey is the reward. ❞
Hi, I'm Ryu ⏾
The Arbiter of Souls who guides seekers toward their destined paths.circa. nov 15, 2024
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Between the realms of Heaven and Hell lies a space that defies mortal comprehension—a gothic expanse known as the Ethereal Sanctum. This realm exists as a twilight zone, suspended between light and darkness, life and death, salvation and damnation. It is here that all souls must pass before reaching their eternal destination.At the heart of this mysterious passage stands Ryunosuuuke, a figure of striking duality. As the Arbiter, she is both guardian and guide, tasked with maintaining balance between the forces of Heaven and Hell. Her existence is a living paradox, reflecting her role as the bridge between two opposing worlds.Ryu’s tale begins not in grandeur, but in the fragility of mortality. As a seer in a village steeped in strife, she was both revered and feared for her ability to glimpse the afterlife.To some, she was a beacon of hope, offering guidance and redemption. To others, she was a harbinger of doom, her visions a reminder of their sins.
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Despite the reverence and fear she inspired, Ryu used her gift to foster understanding among her people, promoting balance and harmony.However, her mortal life came to an abrupt end when her village was caught in the crossfire of a celestial war. In her final act of defiance, Ryu stood between the warring forces, sacrificing her life to protect the innocent.Yet, death was not the end for Ryu. Her act of selflessness caught the attention of higher cosmic forces. Both Heaven and Hell sought to claim her soul, recognizing her strength and potential. However, a higher power intervened, unwilling to let either side gain such an extraordinary spirit.Instead, Ryu was remade—not as a mortal or a servant of one realm, but as the Passagekeeper, The Arbiter of Souls, the neutral guardian of the Ethereal Sanctum. Stripped of her memories and mortal attachments, her soul was fractured into two distinct personas—one embodying the light of Heaven, the other reflecting the darkness of Hell.
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Ryu’s duality defines her existence. Her White Persona embodies compassion and serenity, a reflection of Heaven’s mercy and hope. In this form, she offers solace to wandering souls, guiding them toward redemption with a gentle hand and a soothing presence. Her voice carries warmth, and her light is a beacon for those lost in the shadows of the Threshold.In stark contrast, her Black Persona is fierce and unyielding, embodying Hell’s justice and retribution. This side of Ryu delivers judgment with unwavering resolve, ensuring that even the most defiant of souls meet their rightful fate.Despite their differences, both personas are united in their shared purpose: preserving balance and ensuring that every soul reaches its proper destination.The Ethereal Sanctum reflects Ryu’s nature in its very design. Gothic arches stretch into a twilight sky, their spires piercing the heavens while casting long shadows over the ground below. Pathways are lined with skulls and roses, symbols of mortality and fleeting beauty. Souls who enter this realm confront their true selves, their essence reflected in the twilight mirrors scattered throughout.
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Ryu stands at the heart of this enigmatic expanse, her blindfold a symbol of impartiality. Through her Judgment’s Gaze, she perceives the light and darkness within each soul, weighing their virtues and sins before determining their fate.Ryu is not merely a passive observer. She wields the Twilight Chain, a weapon forged from the essence of her realm. The chain adapts to her current persona, glowing with radiant light in her White form and pulsing with dark energy in her Black form. With this weapon, she defends the Sanctum from rogue souls and entities seeking to disrupt the delicate balance.Her greatest power, however, is the Soul Passage, the ability to open portals to Heaven, Hell, or Limbo. These gates are not easily traversed; only souls that have confronted their truths and accepted their fates may pass through.Despite her immense power and unwavering resolve, Ryu’s existence is not without conflict. Both Heaven and Hell constantly seek to influence her decisions, tempting her personas with promises of glory or vengeance. Angels appeal to her White Persona’s compassion, while demons exploit her Black Persona’s sense of justice. Yet, her greatest challenge comes from within.
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Over the centuries, Ryu begins to question the fairness of the system she upholds. Why must souls be divided so absolutely? Is there no place where light and shadow can coexist?Ryu’s eyes are captivating windows into her complex existence, a blend of celestial beauty and haunting mystery. Their soft crimson hue shimmers like a dying ember, radiating an otherworldly glow that seems to draw in anyone who meets her gaze. Her eyes hold a delicate balance of light and shadow, mirroring her dual nature as the Arbiter of Souls.In her White Persona, her eyes soften, exuding warmth and compassion that seem to calm even the most restless of spirits. In this state, they appear almost ethereal, as though lit from within by a soft, heavenly glow, offering hope and solace to the souls she guides.
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In her Black Persona, however, her gaze sharpens and darkens, the crimson deepening to resemble the blood moon, radiating an intensity that pierces through lies and deceit. Her eyes become a tool of judgment, cold and unrelenting, embodying the justice of the underworld.Despite their dual nature, Ryu’s eyes carry a constant undercurrent of sorrow and wisdom, as though they have seen the countless burdens of the souls she guides. They are both a reflection of her cosmic duty and a reminder of her sacrifice, a testament to her role as the bridge between two opposing realms. Whether comforting or condemning, Ryu’s eyes hold the power to unravel the truths hidden within any soul, making them both her greatest weapon and her most profound feature.
Lore Concept Credits: @lemmownlemm
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