Hagetaka Miyoko SDL Entry

Haha! And here’s Miyoko, all tarted up for the SDL league. I don’t know if I’ll actually enter yet (don’t really have time to draw out full duels, and are they even taking new members?) but I couldn’t resist making one of their prettyful audition pages…
I know Miyoko was originally a Naruto OC, but since the only thing about her from the Narutoverse was her hiate-ite, remove the headband and you remove her tie to fandom…

Name: Hagetaka Miyoko. Becoming known as ‘Mistress Vulture’ because of her tendency to circle within failing dynasties and empires, waiting for the right moment to deliver the final, critical blow.

Age: Early to mid twenties

Height: 5’4”

Weight: 125lb. (Mostly muscle, she says.)

Nationality: Vietnamese, but grew up in Japan.

Personality: Despite her revealing outfit, she comes across as demure and reserved to those who meet her. Her manner is at the same time timid and businesslike. But as they say, it’s always the quiet ones…

Specialty: Political assassination and espionage.

Sponsor: Naked Grain, distillery and producer of fine Sake and other spirits. It’s a small company, but growing fast.

Weapons / Equipment / Battle Techniques: She carries a wakizashi and is relatively proficient in its use, but it is not her weapon of choice. Miyoko specializes in guile, rather than brute force, and relies on the element of surprise. Her delicate-looking fan is actually a surprisingly strong Tessan-type weapon, and her seemingly clumsy-for-combat outfit is actually specifically chosen as her primary weapon. Weighted and reinforced, the silk streamers of her sleeves and obi can be used to smother, strangle, blind, or bludgeon opponents, and the dark, rich colours of the silk disguise bloodstains as she slips innocently through the crowd and makes her getaway. The skirts were designed to provide the full range of mobility to the legs. It cost a pretty penny, but in Miyoko’s humble opinion, it was worth every cent.

- Another primary technique, though not a weapon, is her birds. Miyoko is an experienced falconer, and is quick to employ her birds in all manner of fashions, from messengers and scouts to distractions or killing blows.

- Her birding gauntlet is a finely tooled leather glove flexible enough to pick up a pin but tough enough to protect against the sharpest talons, and she wears a light chain mail bracer underneath, around her lower arm. In a fight she can use both of these to help deflect sharp blades, though she has to be careful; if the blade is sharp enough, or the blow hard enough, it will slice right through the leather and chain mail and meet the flesh underneath.

- And finally, we get to her shoes. Bamboo braid platform heels may seem a bit odd to do battle in, but with the shoes on Miyoko gains 3 ½”, giving her an imposing height for a woman and making her rather noticeable. People she associates with (and her intended targets) get used to seeing her at this height. Thus, when she slips them off and glides away, her head no longer can be seen above the crowd, and she can slip through unnoticed; an invaluable tool for an assassin.

Weakest against Brawler-type fighters. Miyoko needs a quick, clean kill within the first few minutes of battle; she’s useless at extended fighting. If opponent is female, she’ll simply flee (and despite those platform shoes, she’s amazingly agile). If male, she may attempt to kiss them before fleeing.

Strongest against hormone-driven males (or females of a certain persuasion); those who underestimate her and fall for her ‘timid’ act; and/or unsuspecting prey.

Bio: excerpt from the SDL Handbook “Little is known about Mistress Vulture’s early life. Public records show that she had three siblings, one elder, presumably born in Vietnam like her, and two younger, both born after her family immigrated to Japan. Two have been confirmed dead, though one death was tagged as suspicious and is currently under league investigation. The whereabouts of the third is unknown.

“There is some indication that the family was privileged in some way back in Vietnam; however, no more information is known about this, as the family appears to have taken on a new Japanese name (Hagetaka) when they immigrated without revealing their original one. Records indicate that several years after immigrating, her father, a skilled Falconer, bid for, and received, the attentions of a local lord, and was taken on as a retainer. Several handbills regarding the purchases of rare and/or exotic birds over the next few decades have been recovered with the Hagetaka name on them, indicating that the father continued to ply his trade for his new lord. In all likelihood, this is where Mistress Vulture’s early training took place. At the time of publication, both parents still resided at this court.

“Though the name ‘Mistress Vulture’ is slowly becoming known in certain circles, Hagetaka Miyoko’s recent history is, for the most part, as unclear as her past. She always appears to be in full view of the world and yet it is difficult to trace or predict her movements. In an unusual set of coincidences, she often appears in lands just before or immediately after a political upheaval. However, as she has done nothing to arouse suspicion from the authorities during her visits, relatively few have thought to link this ‘gentle soul, with an unusual passion for birds,’ with the surrounding political landscape.”

excerpt from the SDL Handbook, Update #1"In light of recent events, there has been some speculation that the bloodied hand of Mistress Vulture does not fall randomly, as was once thought, but is instead subtly directed from afar. This influence, known to the League only as 'Hirano', appears to have significant impact on the young assassin, and there is some speculation on the possibility of a blood relationship between the two.

It seems likely, in any event, that this mysterious 'Hirano' must have had something to do with the Hagetaka family's hidden past..."


Steal her and you steal my soul. So don't, please.