Post by Reno on Jan 20, 2019 23:15:07 GMT
Basic Information
Name: Reno Cascade
Aliases: "The Red Lightning", "Kid", "Punk", "Brat", "Pipsqueak"
Race: Human (?)
Age: Appears to be around ten years old...
Height: 3'10"
Weight: 67 lbs
Eyes: Azure Green
Hair: Wild, Blood Red, Ponytailed
Skin: White
Date of Birth: October 13th
Place of Birth: Midgar
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Affiliation: None
Rank/Job: Drifter/Outlaw
Appearance
He's a short, scrawny, scrappy little guy with vibrant azure green eyes and a mane of wild, blood red hair typically tied back in a haphazard ponytail. In spite of his size, his body appears to be surprisingly sturdy and resilient, with an uncommonly muscular physique for one so young. Even though he's only been "awake" for a relatively short time, he already sports a number of scars on his otherwise pristine body, which further adds to the peculiar aura about him that makes it seem like he's physically older than he actually is. This is only enhanced by his usual choice of attire, which consists of a dark blue suit, shirt partially unbuttoned, collar turned out, and generally worn in a manner that straddles the line between being sophisticated and disheveled, which projects a rather unsettling air of maturity and experience that shouldn't be possible from a mere child.
Personality
Loud, crass, hard-drinking and womanizing. Reno is all of these things, wrapped up in the body of a his ten-year-old self. It is actually quite hilarious to see him in action sometimes, though it can often veer off into being fairly disturbing, especially once he's had a few too many shots and starts hitting on chicks left and right. They usually find him to be "cute", but otherwise don't take him seriously, being that he's a kid and all (even though he insists that he's in his thirties). He's also kind of a jerk, but is known to have a good heart. He has his own sense of justice and what's right, and though his morals may be somewhat skewed, he's generally the kind of guy who will help out those who need it, especially if it means he'll get himself a good fight out of the deal (a hefty reward for his troubles never hurts either).
Skills, Powers and Abilities
The Red Lightning, Reborn: Reno is a master of his own unique fighting style, which seems to just come naturally to him. Even though he is still relatively young and inexperienced, he already possesses a large number of special moves and techniques in his ever expanding repertoire, most of which have been developed out of sheer necessity over the course of numerous epic battles. One should not be alarmed if he suddenly comes up with something completely new (and oftentimes downright insane) in the middle of a fight. His style can ultimately be explained as a "style of no style", and as such, he does not necessarily adhere to the typical rules of combat (or even common sense).
Of course, he wasn't simply born battle-ready (well, probably). Reno learned the fundamentals of combat on the rough streets of Midgar from various rough and tumble riff-raff ne'er-do-wells who definitely knew a thing or two about a thing or two. After he was recruited into the Turks, he received even more training, which served to streamline and strengthen his skills into a truly deadly and powerful array of techniques.
At first glance, he appears to be primarily a hand-to-hand brawler. His technique may seem unrefined to the untrained (or even highly trained) eye, but in reality, nothing could be further from the truth. He is fully capable of matching practically any martial artist blow for blow with both style and finesse. It's just that he prefers to get to the god damned point without any fancy mumbo-jumbo getting in the way.
As it turns out, his combat skills don't end there. Reno also happens to be an extremely skilled swordsman, although the full extent of his abilities in this regard are largely unknown, since he almost never uses them. Rumor has it that his sword technique is primarily centered around "quick draw" Katana skills, possibly related to an ancient Wutaian school of swordsmanship.
And of course, he's also intimately familiar with the use of various other standard-issue weaponry courtesy of his training as a Turk. Blunt weapons, explosives, firearms, etc. He is actually quite adept in the use of pistols, maybe even what you might call a "crack shot".
Generally speaking, his unarmed combat skills are more than sufficient to get the job done anyway. In fact, most people aren't even aware that he is actually a swordsman/gunslinger. He also has a tendency to make heavy use of his surroundings in combat. For instance, he is not beyond slugging someone with a trash can or a step ladder or some such thing. A very creative, improvisational fighter, this one.
Physical Might: Strength, stamina and durability that far exceeds the norm. In Reno's case, his strength is apparently due to some sort of genetic engineering that has greatly enhanced his overall physicality. Of course, given his current child form, his strength is hindered a fair bit (although he is still significantly stronger than any average adult). For comparison, his strength would fall somewhere between a 2nd and 1st class member of SOLDIER. His stamina enables him to perform at peak levels of physical exertion for prolonged periods of time (at least several hours) before showing signs of fatigue. His body is durable to the point that he can withstand falls from great heights and severe blunt-force trauma (such as repeated blows from super-powered beings) without sustaining crippling injuries. Though, again, given his current form, he is not as "mighty" as he would be as a fully grown adult.
Hypervelocity: Reno is highly skilled in the use of super speed techniques. As a result, he can alter his perceptions accordingly. While moving at higher speeds, anything else that isn't moving at similar rates is slowed down dramatically from his perspective. He is both strong and agile enough to be capable of accelerating from a dead stop, directly to his top speed, within an instant (this can make it appear as though he is teleporting, at least to untrained eyes). To any ordinary onlooker, or those unprepared for the sudden movement, it would appear to be akin to instantaneous movement, or teleportation, though this is simply an illusion. Naturally, the faster he goes, the more stress is placed upon his body. He seems to be capable of weathering the strain for protracted periods of time, up to a certain point, although he does have limits. He has yet to achieve his full potential in this regard, and as he continues to fight and gain valuable battle experience, he will surely become faster. The maximum upper limit of this potential is unknown.
Spatial Awareness: Reno possesses incredible spatial awareness that occurs as naturally as any of his other senses, such as sight or hearing. With this "sense" (a bit like a kind of radar) being active at all times, Reno is rarely taken by surprise, as he is generally "aware" of all things in his immediate vicinity. It is extremely useful (though not absolutely vital) when traveling at high speeds.
To the Last Drop of My Blood: This is the physical and mental fortitude possessed by certain rare individuals which enables them to fight on in spite of grievous injuries that would likely have proved fatal for any normal being. Through sheer force of will (coupled with an incredibly resilient physique despite appearances), Reno has the ability to stand up and fight on again and again. There are certainly limits to how much damage he can actually walk away from, but he has been known to be capable of weathering punishment up to and including: multiple stab/gunshot wounds, severe cuts/lacerations, multiple broken/fractured bones, severe blood loss, and damage to vital organs. Basically, unless he is beaten to a literal pulp or beheaded, chances are he will continue to fight.
Tenken: While he has been seemingly robbed of his ability to tap into the power of Materia, he has been granted various other abilities that more than make up for it. Referred to as "Tenken" by Dr. Brannox, the true extent of these powers will likely manifest later on, given enough time, experience and training.
-- Tenken: Blade of the Heavens: This is a very powerful Tenken skill which grants Reno the ability to wield virtually any object (for example, an old iron pipe, or a wooden practice sword) as if it were a razor-sharp blade. This is seemingly accomplished by generating highly concentrated, localized "vacuums" around said objects which, in effect, envelopes them with a "blade" of intense air pressure. This skill also enables Reno to drastically reduce friction and air resistance on his person. Without this ability, Reno would have much greater difficulty attaining his tremendously high battle speeds.
However, there is much more to this ability than meets the eye, and even Reno himself has yet to realize this. Numerous hidden potentials exist within the broad scope of this mysterious inner power. Thus far, Reno's understanding is limited to utilizing relatively simple techniques. For example, he is capable of generating strong shockwave forces in order to attack enemies from a distance by swinging a sword along almost any surface (typically the ground) which in turn hurls debris through the air at high speeds. He is also able to send cutting blades of force through the air itself.
-- Tenken: Stream of the Heavens: Reno actually utilizes this ability unconsciously (albeit sporadically), but is unaware of its true nature. The potential of this power is rather staggering, considering the fact that he is already using it without even knowing what it is. Essentially, this ability enables him to guide the flow of chi (or whatever you prefer to call it) throughout his body, granting him increased physical performance across a broad spectrum. If he learned to harness and control the power properly, he would theoretically be capable of physical feats that dwarf his current abilities.
-- Tenken: Fortress of the Heavens: An invisible barrier of sorts that occasionally protects Reno from harm. He has
little control over it, though gradually he is learning to harness it with greater ease. As his powers increase, his awareness and control should also increase, which will likely open up various new uses and skills.
-- Tenken: Insight of the Heavens: This is the ability to sense an opponent's emotions in order to gauge their intentions and better react to their movements. At higher levels, the effectiveness of this power borders on full blown precognition. Reno is able to use it with moderate skill, enabling him to take evasive actions that often appear to be akin to a "simultaneous reaction".
-- Tenken: Conqueror of the Heavens: This is an extremely powerful ability that Reno has yet to discover. In essence, this is the ability to dominate the wills of others through sheer force. Any entity possessed of a weak will who is subjected to this power, can and will be stricken with numerous ill-effects, up to and including: debilitating fear, temporary confusion/disorientation, temporary paralysis, and in particularly strong cases, sudden and complete loss of consciousness. The effective range of this effect can be anywhere from a few meters, to several hundred, depending on various factors. It can be spread out among dozens upon dozens of foes, or be utilized with tremendous precision in order to focus in on a small number of targets, or even single individual. The mechanics of how this works will likely never be fully understood.
Limit Breaks: Special techniques that can be utilized during moments of crisis in battle.
-- Lv.1: Tempest Slash: Unleashes a burst of pent-up energy through the air. Single target.
-- Lv.1: Fissure Blast: Unleashes a rending shockwave through the ground. Multiple targets.
-- Lv.2: Gun Grave: A charged, precision gunshot that explodes on impact. Single target/nearby targets.
-- Lv.2: Buster Beam: A powerful energy beam that penetrates physical defenses. Multiple targets/line.
-- Lv.3: Sky Shaker: Call down a massive lightning storm from above. Targets all enemies.
-- Lv.3: Plus ULTRA: Temporarily triples all parameters (speed, strength, stamina, etc).
-- Lv.4: Nine Dragons: Slash at nine vital points simultaneously.
Weapons
GATX-105L "Raijin": A Katana made of some unknown alien material. Seemingly custom made for Reno. It was found in the same chamber as his stasis pod. It is sleek in appearance, blending modern and traditional design elements together into a form that is both beautiful and functional. Tests on the blade have thus far demonstrated an unparalleled sharpness and durability, as well as a tremendous potential for absorbing and channeling energy.
This weapon was unfortunately left behind when Reno made his escape from the Shin-Ra Special R&D Facility, so it is currently unavailable. It's probably a little too big for him anyway.
GATX-105S "Fujin": A Wakizashi made of some unknown alien material. Seemingly custom made for Reno. It was found in the same chamber as his stasis pod. It is sleek in appearance, blending modern and traditional design elements together into a form that is both beautiful and functional. Tests on the blade have thus far demonstrated an unparalleled sharpness and durability, as well as a tremendous potential for absorbing and channeling energy.
Reno managed to grab this as he made his escape from the Shin-Ra Special R&D Facility, and currently uses it as his main weapon. Given his short stature, it's quite fitting indeed.
Gungnir-HAG35: A high caliber Magnum handgun built from unknown alien materials. Seemingly custom made for Reno. It was found in the same chamber as his stasis pod. It appears to combine design aspects of Gaian firearms from Reno's time period with contemporary elements thrown in, though functions more or less the same way as a traditional revolver would. Tests have shown that the weapon is capable of utilizing various types of high caliber ammo (high level magic-infused, high explosive, high velocity, etc), and is able to unleash massive amounts of destructive power.
This weapon was unfortunately left behind when Reno made his escape from the Shin-Ra Special R&D Facility, so it is currently unavailable. Given how large the gun is, and how massive of a punch it packs, it's unlikely Reno would be able to use it effectively at current anyway.
Coyote-M17F: A sidearm pistol that was built from unknown alien materials. Seemingly custom made for Reno. It was found in the same chamber as his stasis pod. It appears to combine design aspects of Gaian firearms from Reno's time period with contemporary elements thrown in, though functions more or less the same way as a traditional pistol would. Tests have shown that the weapon is capable of utilizing various types of specialized ammo (including magic-infused, status effects, and various physical rounds), and is able to produce a wide array of useful effects.
Reno managed to grab this as he made his escape from the Shin-Ra Special R&D Facility, and currently uses it as his sub-weapon. Its compact size and non-existent recoil make it perfect for him in his current form.
SRF13 Electro-Mag Rod: An antique retractable electromagnetic rod design that has been updated with modern technology and materials. Reno is able to fire off large bolts of electric energy, throwing arcs of lighting between multiple enemies and objects. Physical contact with the business end of the rod results in a painful shock that can temporarily stun opponents. Additionally, it is capable of utilizing a special "pyramid" trap, which surrounds targets in a strong temporary pyramid-shaped barrier, effectively trapping them for a time.
Armor
Skyhook Bracer: A unique combat bracer that provides an impressive level of physical and magical defense. It has no Materia slots, but instead has a built-in retractable grappling line that can be used for various offensive and evasive purposes. Worn on the left forearm.
Accessories
Bolt Amulet: Absorbs Lightning-elemental damage.
Jem Amulet: Protects against Paralysis, Petrify, Slow, Stop, and Confuse.
Blue Bandanna: Protects against Sleep. (used to tie ponytail)
Cool Shades: Protects against Darkness. (usually worn on head)
Other Items
Custom Turk Jacket S: A custom-made dark blue suit jacket made to look like those worn by the Turks. People usually assume it's just a costume. Resistant to small impacts and light blades (knives, etc).
Biography
A child who claims to be Reno Cascade, one of the "legendary heroes" who vanished over 800 years ago. While this appears to be a completely outlandish claim on the surface, he seems to possess skills and knowledge that appear to validate his story...
History
Over 800 years ago, Reno Cascade was a member of the Turks, a special organization within the Shin-Ra Electric Power Company that was tasked with handling the more unsavory aspects of the day-to-day operations of a global corporation. Kidnapping, extortion, espionage, murder, and so-on. This was Reno's life, and for better or worse, he was pretty much fine with it. "That's the job", he'd always say. But over time, things gradually started to change, not just for himself, but for the Turks as a whole. It all kind of came to a head during the METEOR incident, where the Turks ended up clashing with the "terrorist" group AVALANCHE on multiple occasions. Eventually, the Turks and AVALANCHE ended up cooperating with one another, forging an unsteady alliance in order to more effectively combat the ever-increasing threat posed by Sephiroth.
In the aftermath, with Sephiroth defeated and the METEOR crisis averted, AVALANCHE essentially disbanded, while the Turks were restructured within the company, their role shifting to something more akin to a sort of special investigative branch.
Of course, peace was still a ways off. Various incidents kept both the Turks and the former AVALANCHE members busy, and though it was a rocky road, things seemed to be steadily improving across the world. At least until the so-called "Dragon Gods" showed up. Once again, the Turks, along with AVALANCHE, rose to the occasion and fought off the new threat, which further cemented their legacy as "heroes".
This time, there was a period of relative stability that saw great strides in social, economic, and political progress, and the Turks remained as a vital part of the continued success of the new Shin-Ra Corporation. But, as one might have expected, disaster struck once again, as a herald of JENOVA arrived, wreaking havoc and sowing destruction among the peaceful populace. Reno and Rude (his best friend and fellow Turk), along with a few of the former AVALANCHE members and some SOLDIER personnel, managed to fend off the herald, but they'd been caught off-guard, and were unable to prevent mass amounts of casualties and severe damage to infrastructure at ground zero.
This led to the decision to take the fight to the JENOVA homeworld. The core members of the Turks, along with selected members of SOLDIER and most former AVALANCHE members (excluding Reeve, AKA "Cait Sith" and Nanaki, AKA "Red XIII"), all boarded a state-of-the-art space vessel, which would take them through an artificial wormhole that led directly to the JENOVA homeworld. The mission objective was to seek out the "origin" of JENOVA, and defeat it once and for all, thus (hopefully) ending the threat for good.
Unfortunately, while it is assumed that the mission was a success, being that JENOVA never attacked again, the heroes never returned. It was assumed that they all perished in for the sake of the mission. It is due to this sacrifice, along with their many other world-saving exploits, that they are all remembered as "legendary heroes".
But perhaps there is more to this story...
Other Information
- For reasons that remain unknown, he is unable to actively utilize Materia. Dr. Brannox speculates that this has to do with the unique physiology of his body.
- Has a natural immunity to the "Frog" spell for some reason.
Reno's Companions
Dr. Alonzo Brannox: Human. 45 years old. 6'7", 270 lbs. A massive, powerfully-built man with untamed light brown hair and strong, square-jawed, chiseled features that are considered highly unusual for a man of science/bookworm. Dr. Brannox is the former Chief of Shin-Ra's Special Biolab Division. He was in charge of the project that oversaw the transfer of Reno's stasis pod from the alien facility back to Gaia, and subsequent research into its origins. He was "released" from the company several months later for under mysterious circumstances. A stern man who with a strong sense of morality. Utilizes a custom-made "battle gauntlet" weapon in battle, and possesses moderate skill with Materia. Tends to rely on raw brute force in battle.
Millicent Faluna: Human. 18 years old. 5'1", 105 lbs. A short, petite young woman with long, lustrous emerald-green hair and sky blue eyes. She is the daughter of the chief of Dorsia Village, which is located in the desert lands of the western continent. She rebelled against her father when he tried to push her into an arranged marriage, and ran away from home. From there, she met up with Rika Kusanagi, and the two became friends/traveling companions. A kind soul, but also a fierce free spirit. Wields a staff in battle, and is highly skilled with Materia, though physically rather on the frail side.
Rika Kusanagi: Human. 23 years old. 5'6", 122 lbs. A tall and slender femme-fatale type with shoulder-length jet black hair and piercing violet eyes. A notorious thief, she has a reputation for being particularly fond of rare and unique one-of-a-kind items. Originally from Wutai, where she no doubt picked up her various Ninja arts. She met up with Millicent, who had accidentally caused her to botch the job she had been working on. After a series of subsequent mishaps, the two ended up traveling together and becoming friends. She seems selfish and greedy, but also has a good heart underneath it all. Uses a large shuriken in battle, along with various other Ninja tools (kunai, grappling hooks, smoke bombs, etc). Quite adept with Materia, and while her raw physical strength isn't particularly high, she makes up for it by being extremely quick and agile.
Name: Reno Cascade
Aliases: "The Red Lightning", "Kid", "Punk", "Brat", "Pipsqueak"
Race: Human (?)
Age: Appears to be around ten years old...
Height: 3'10"
Weight: 67 lbs
Eyes: Azure Green
Hair: Wild, Blood Red, Ponytailed
Skin: White
Date of Birth: October 13th
Place of Birth: Midgar
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Affiliation: None
Rank/Job: Drifter/Outlaw
Appearance
He's a short, scrawny, scrappy little guy with vibrant azure green eyes and a mane of wild, blood red hair typically tied back in a haphazard ponytail. In spite of his size, his body appears to be surprisingly sturdy and resilient, with an uncommonly muscular physique for one so young. Even though he's only been "awake" for a relatively short time, he already sports a number of scars on his otherwise pristine body, which further adds to the peculiar aura about him that makes it seem like he's physically older than he actually is. This is only enhanced by his usual choice of attire, which consists of a dark blue suit, shirt partially unbuttoned, collar turned out, and generally worn in a manner that straddles the line between being sophisticated and disheveled, which projects a rather unsettling air of maturity and experience that shouldn't be possible from a mere child.
Personality
Loud, crass, hard-drinking and womanizing. Reno is all of these things, wrapped up in the body of a his ten-year-old self. It is actually quite hilarious to see him in action sometimes, though it can often veer off into being fairly disturbing, especially once he's had a few too many shots and starts hitting on chicks left and right. They usually find him to be "cute", but otherwise don't take him seriously, being that he's a kid and all (even though he insists that he's in his thirties). He's also kind of a jerk, but is known to have a good heart. He has his own sense of justice and what's right, and though his morals may be somewhat skewed, he's generally the kind of guy who will help out those who need it, especially if it means he'll get himself a good fight out of the deal (a hefty reward for his troubles never hurts either).
Skills, Powers and Abilities
The Red Lightning, Reborn: Reno is a master of his own unique fighting style, which seems to just come naturally to him. Even though he is still relatively young and inexperienced, he already possesses a large number of special moves and techniques in his ever expanding repertoire, most of which have been developed out of sheer necessity over the course of numerous epic battles. One should not be alarmed if he suddenly comes up with something completely new (and oftentimes downright insane) in the middle of a fight. His style can ultimately be explained as a "style of no style", and as such, he does not necessarily adhere to the typical rules of combat (or even common sense).
Of course, he wasn't simply born battle-ready (well, probably). Reno learned the fundamentals of combat on the rough streets of Midgar from various rough and tumble riff-raff ne'er-do-wells who definitely knew a thing or two about a thing or two. After he was recruited into the Turks, he received even more training, which served to streamline and strengthen his skills into a truly deadly and powerful array of techniques.
At first glance, he appears to be primarily a hand-to-hand brawler. His technique may seem unrefined to the untrained (or even highly trained) eye, but in reality, nothing could be further from the truth. He is fully capable of matching practically any martial artist blow for blow with both style and finesse. It's just that he prefers to get to the god damned point without any fancy mumbo-jumbo getting in the way.
As it turns out, his combat skills don't end there. Reno also happens to be an extremely skilled swordsman, although the full extent of his abilities in this regard are largely unknown, since he almost never uses them. Rumor has it that his sword technique is primarily centered around "quick draw" Katana skills, possibly related to an ancient Wutaian school of swordsmanship.
And of course, he's also intimately familiar with the use of various other standard-issue weaponry courtesy of his training as a Turk. Blunt weapons, explosives, firearms, etc. He is actually quite adept in the use of pistols, maybe even what you might call a "crack shot".
Generally speaking, his unarmed combat skills are more than sufficient to get the job done anyway. In fact, most people aren't even aware that he is actually a swordsman/gunslinger. He also has a tendency to make heavy use of his surroundings in combat. For instance, he is not beyond slugging someone with a trash can or a step ladder or some such thing. A very creative, improvisational fighter, this one.
Physical Might: Strength, stamina and durability that far exceeds the norm. In Reno's case, his strength is apparently due to some sort of genetic engineering that has greatly enhanced his overall physicality. Of course, given his current child form, his strength is hindered a fair bit (although he is still significantly stronger than any average adult). For comparison, his strength would fall somewhere between a 2nd and 1st class member of SOLDIER. His stamina enables him to perform at peak levels of physical exertion for prolonged periods of time (at least several hours) before showing signs of fatigue. His body is durable to the point that he can withstand falls from great heights and severe blunt-force trauma (such as repeated blows from super-powered beings) without sustaining crippling injuries. Though, again, given his current form, he is not as "mighty" as he would be as a fully grown adult.
Hypervelocity: Reno is highly skilled in the use of super speed techniques. As a result, he can alter his perceptions accordingly. While moving at higher speeds, anything else that isn't moving at similar rates is slowed down dramatically from his perspective. He is both strong and agile enough to be capable of accelerating from a dead stop, directly to his top speed, within an instant (this can make it appear as though he is teleporting, at least to untrained eyes). To any ordinary onlooker, or those unprepared for the sudden movement, it would appear to be akin to instantaneous movement, or teleportation, though this is simply an illusion. Naturally, the faster he goes, the more stress is placed upon his body. He seems to be capable of weathering the strain for protracted periods of time, up to a certain point, although he does have limits. He has yet to achieve his full potential in this regard, and as he continues to fight and gain valuable battle experience, he will surely become faster. The maximum upper limit of this potential is unknown.
Spatial Awareness: Reno possesses incredible spatial awareness that occurs as naturally as any of his other senses, such as sight or hearing. With this "sense" (a bit like a kind of radar) being active at all times, Reno is rarely taken by surprise, as he is generally "aware" of all things in his immediate vicinity. It is extremely useful (though not absolutely vital) when traveling at high speeds.
To the Last Drop of My Blood: This is the physical and mental fortitude possessed by certain rare individuals which enables them to fight on in spite of grievous injuries that would likely have proved fatal for any normal being. Through sheer force of will (coupled with an incredibly resilient physique despite appearances), Reno has the ability to stand up and fight on again and again. There are certainly limits to how much damage he can actually walk away from, but he has been known to be capable of weathering punishment up to and including: multiple stab/gunshot wounds, severe cuts/lacerations, multiple broken/fractured bones, severe blood loss, and damage to vital organs. Basically, unless he is beaten to a literal pulp or beheaded, chances are he will continue to fight.
Tenken: While he has been seemingly robbed of his ability to tap into the power of Materia, he has been granted various other abilities that more than make up for it. Referred to as "Tenken" by Dr. Brannox, the true extent of these powers will likely manifest later on, given enough time, experience and training.
-- Tenken: Blade of the Heavens: This is a very powerful Tenken skill which grants Reno the ability to wield virtually any object (for example, an old iron pipe, or a wooden practice sword) as if it were a razor-sharp blade. This is seemingly accomplished by generating highly concentrated, localized "vacuums" around said objects which, in effect, envelopes them with a "blade" of intense air pressure. This skill also enables Reno to drastically reduce friction and air resistance on his person. Without this ability, Reno would have much greater difficulty attaining his tremendously high battle speeds.
However, there is much more to this ability than meets the eye, and even Reno himself has yet to realize this. Numerous hidden potentials exist within the broad scope of this mysterious inner power. Thus far, Reno's understanding is limited to utilizing relatively simple techniques. For example, he is capable of generating strong shockwave forces in order to attack enemies from a distance by swinging a sword along almost any surface (typically the ground) which in turn hurls debris through the air at high speeds. He is also able to send cutting blades of force through the air itself.
-- Tenken: Stream of the Heavens: Reno actually utilizes this ability unconsciously (albeit sporadically), but is unaware of its true nature. The potential of this power is rather staggering, considering the fact that he is already using it without even knowing what it is. Essentially, this ability enables him to guide the flow of chi (or whatever you prefer to call it) throughout his body, granting him increased physical performance across a broad spectrum. If he learned to harness and control the power properly, he would theoretically be capable of physical feats that dwarf his current abilities.
-- Tenken: Fortress of the Heavens: An invisible barrier of sorts that occasionally protects Reno from harm. He has
little control over it, though gradually he is learning to harness it with greater ease. As his powers increase, his awareness and control should also increase, which will likely open up various new uses and skills.
-- Tenken: Insight of the Heavens: This is the ability to sense an opponent's emotions in order to gauge their intentions and better react to their movements. At higher levels, the effectiveness of this power borders on full blown precognition. Reno is able to use it with moderate skill, enabling him to take evasive actions that often appear to be akin to a "simultaneous reaction".
-- Tenken: Conqueror of the Heavens: This is an extremely powerful ability that Reno has yet to discover. In essence, this is the ability to dominate the wills of others through sheer force. Any entity possessed of a weak will who is subjected to this power, can and will be stricken with numerous ill-effects, up to and including: debilitating fear, temporary confusion/disorientation, temporary paralysis, and in particularly strong cases, sudden and complete loss of consciousness. The effective range of this effect can be anywhere from a few meters, to several hundred, depending on various factors. It can be spread out among dozens upon dozens of foes, or be utilized with tremendous precision in order to focus in on a small number of targets, or even single individual. The mechanics of how this works will likely never be fully understood.
Limit Breaks: Special techniques that can be utilized during moments of crisis in battle.
-- Lv.1: Tempest Slash: Unleashes a burst of pent-up energy through the air. Single target.
-- Lv.1: Fissure Blast: Unleashes a rending shockwave through the ground. Multiple targets.
-- Lv.2: Gun Grave: A charged, precision gunshot that explodes on impact. Single target/nearby targets.
-- Lv.2: Buster Beam: A powerful energy beam that penetrates physical defenses. Multiple targets/line.
-- Lv.3: Sky Shaker: Call down a massive lightning storm from above. Targets all enemies.
-- Lv.3: Plus ULTRA: Temporarily triples all parameters (speed, strength, stamina, etc).
-- Lv.4: Nine Dragons: Slash at nine vital points simultaneously.
Weapons
GATX-105L "Raijin": A Katana made of some unknown alien material. Seemingly custom made for Reno. It was found in the same chamber as his stasis pod. It is sleek in appearance, blending modern and traditional design elements together into a form that is both beautiful and functional. Tests on the blade have thus far demonstrated an unparalleled sharpness and durability, as well as a tremendous potential for absorbing and channeling energy.
This weapon was unfortunately left behind when Reno made his escape from the Shin-Ra Special R&D Facility, so it is currently unavailable. It's probably a little too big for him anyway.
GATX-105S "Fujin": A Wakizashi made of some unknown alien material. Seemingly custom made for Reno. It was found in the same chamber as his stasis pod. It is sleek in appearance, blending modern and traditional design elements together into a form that is both beautiful and functional. Tests on the blade have thus far demonstrated an unparalleled sharpness and durability, as well as a tremendous potential for absorbing and channeling energy.
Reno managed to grab this as he made his escape from the Shin-Ra Special R&D Facility, and currently uses it as his main weapon. Given his short stature, it's quite fitting indeed.
Gungnir-HAG35: A high caliber Magnum handgun built from unknown alien materials. Seemingly custom made for Reno. It was found in the same chamber as his stasis pod. It appears to combine design aspects of Gaian firearms from Reno's time period with contemporary elements thrown in, though functions more or less the same way as a traditional revolver would. Tests have shown that the weapon is capable of utilizing various types of high caliber ammo (high level magic-infused, high explosive, high velocity, etc), and is able to unleash massive amounts of destructive power.
This weapon was unfortunately left behind when Reno made his escape from the Shin-Ra Special R&D Facility, so it is currently unavailable. Given how large the gun is, and how massive of a punch it packs, it's unlikely Reno would be able to use it effectively at current anyway.
Coyote-M17F: A sidearm pistol that was built from unknown alien materials. Seemingly custom made for Reno. It was found in the same chamber as his stasis pod. It appears to combine design aspects of Gaian firearms from Reno's time period with contemporary elements thrown in, though functions more or less the same way as a traditional pistol would. Tests have shown that the weapon is capable of utilizing various types of specialized ammo (including magic-infused, status effects, and various physical rounds), and is able to produce a wide array of useful effects.
Reno managed to grab this as he made his escape from the Shin-Ra Special R&D Facility, and currently uses it as his sub-weapon. Its compact size and non-existent recoil make it perfect for him in his current form.
SRF13 Electro-Mag Rod: An antique retractable electromagnetic rod design that has been updated with modern technology and materials. Reno is able to fire off large bolts of electric energy, throwing arcs of lighting between multiple enemies and objects. Physical contact with the business end of the rod results in a painful shock that can temporarily stun opponents. Additionally, it is capable of utilizing a special "pyramid" trap, which surrounds targets in a strong temporary pyramid-shaped barrier, effectively trapping them for a time.
Armor
Skyhook Bracer: A unique combat bracer that provides an impressive level of physical and magical defense. It has no Materia slots, but instead has a built-in retractable grappling line that can be used for various offensive and evasive purposes. Worn on the left forearm.
Accessories
Bolt Amulet: Absorbs Lightning-elemental damage.
Jem Amulet: Protects against Paralysis, Petrify, Slow, Stop, and Confuse.
Blue Bandanna: Protects against Sleep. (used to tie ponytail)
Cool Shades: Protects against Darkness. (usually worn on head)
Other Items
Custom Turk Jacket S: A custom-made dark blue suit jacket made to look like those worn by the Turks. People usually assume it's just a costume. Resistant to small impacts and light blades (knives, etc).
Biography
A child who claims to be Reno Cascade, one of the "legendary heroes" who vanished over 800 years ago. While this appears to be a completely outlandish claim on the surface, he seems to possess skills and knowledge that appear to validate his story...
History
Over 800 years ago, Reno Cascade was a member of the Turks, a special organization within the Shin-Ra Electric Power Company that was tasked with handling the more unsavory aspects of the day-to-day operations of a global corporation. Kidnapping, extortion, espionage, murder, and so-on. This was Reno's life, and for better or worse, he was pretty much fine with it. "That's the job", he'd always say. But over time, things gradually started to change, not just for himself, but for the Turks as a whole. It all kind of came to a head during the METEOR incident, where the Turks ended up clashing with the "terrorist" group AVALANCHE on multiple occasions. Eventually, the Turks and AVALANCHE ended up cooperating with one another, forging an unsteady alliance in order to more effectively combat the ever-increasing threat posed by Sephiroth.
In the aftermath, with Sephiroth defeated and the METEOR crisis averted, AVALANCHE essentially disbanded, while the Turks were restructured within the company, their role shifting to something more akin to a sort of special investigative branch.
Of course, peace was still a ways off. Various incidents kept both the Turks and the former AVALANCHE members busy, and though it was a rocky road, things seemed to be steadily improving across the world. At least until the so-called "Dragon Gods" showed up. Once again, the Turks, along with AVALANCHE, rose to the occasion and fought off the new threat, which further cemented their legacy as "heroes".
This time, there was a period of relative stability that saw great strides in social, economic, and political progress, and the Turks remained as a vital part of the continued success of the new Shin-Ra Corporation. But, as one might have expected, disaster struck once again, as a herald of JENOVA arrived, wreaking havoc and sowing destruction among the peaceful populace. Reno and Rude (his best friend and fellow Turk), along with a few of the former AVALANCHE members and some SOLDIER personnel, managed to fend off the herald, but they'd been caught off-guard, and were unable to prevent mass amounts of casualties and severe damage to infrastructure at ground zero.
This led to the decision to take the fight to the JENOVA homeworld. The core members of the Turks, along with selected members of SOLDIER and most former AVALANCHE members (excluding Reeve, AKA "Cait Sith" and Nanaki, AKA "Red XIII"), all boarded a state-of-the-art space vessel, which would take them through an artificial wormhole that led directly to the JENOVA homeworld. The mission objective was to seek out the "origin" of JENOVA, and defeat it once and for all, thus (hopefully) ending the threat for good.
Unfortunately, while it is assumed that the mission was a success, being that JENOVA never attacked again, the heroes never returned. It was assumed that they all perished in for the sake of the mission. It is due to this sacrifice, along with their many other world-saving exploits, that they are all remembered as "legendary heroes".
But perhaps there is more to this story...
Other Information
- For reasons that remain unknown, he is unable to actively utilize Materia. Dr. Brannox speculates that this has to do with the unique physiology of his body.
- Has a natural immunity to the "Frog" spell for some reason.
Reno's Companions
Dr. Alonzo Brannox: Human. 45 years old. 6'7", 270 lbs. A massive, powerfully-built man with untamed light brown hair and strong, square-jawed, chiseled features that are considered highly unusual for a man of science/bookworm. Dr. Brannox is the former Chief of Shin-Ra's Special Biolab Division. He was in charge of the project that oversaw the transfer of Reno's stasis pod from the alien facility back to Gaia, and subsequent research into its origins. He was "released" from the company several months later for under mysterious circumstances. A stern man who with a strong sense of morality. Utilizes a custom-made "battle gauntlet" weapon in battle, and possesses moderate skill with Materia. Tends to rely on raw brute force in battle.
Millicent Faluna: Human. 18 years old. 5'1", 105 lbs. A short, petite young woman with long, lustrous emerald-green hair and sky blue eyes. She is the daughter of the chief of Dorsia Village, which is located in the desert lands of the western continent. She rebelled against her father when he tried to push her into an arranged marriage, and ran away from home. From there, she met up with Rika Kusanagi, and the two became friends/traveling companions. A kind soul, but also a fierce free spirit. Wields a staff in battle, and is highly skilled with Materia, though physically rather on the frail side.
Rika Kusanagi: Human. 23 years old. 5'6", 122 lbs. A tall and slender femme-fatale type with shoulder-length jet black hair and piercing violet eyes. A notorious thief, she has a reputation for being particularly fond of rare and unique one-of-a-kind items. Originally from Wutai, where she no doubt picked up her various Ninja arts. She met up with Millicent, who had accidentally caused her to botch the job she had been working on. After a series of subsequent mishaps, the two ended up traveling together and becoming friends. She seems selfish and greedy, but also has a good heart underneath it all. Uses a large shuriken in battle, along with various other Ninja tools (kunai, grappling hooks, smoke bombs, etc). Quite adept with Materia, and while her raw physical strength isn't particularly high, she makes up for it by being extremely quick and agile.