Tommy Arashikage

{{CharacterPage
 * image1=Tommy1.jpg
 * image2=Storm_Shadow1.jpg
 * caption=Ninja Master
 * fullname=Tommy S. Arashikage
 * aka=
 * codename=Storm Shadow
 * position= Master of the Arashikage Style
 * age=32
 * race=Human
 * role=Neutral
 * type=Adapted FC


 * quote=

"Ninjas are mystic swordsmen, spies, acrobats, quick-change artists, and conjurors. Most people will tell you that ninjas don't exist. That's exactly what the ninjas want you to believe."


 * overview=

Tommy S. Arashikage was Japanese born. He served in the U.S. Army, First Sergeant (E-8), during the Vietnam War. He returned to Japan after the war and has not been registered in the system since. In high class databases, there may be rumors that he was the heir to the Arashikage Clan, but he disappeared a few years after the war.

Storm Shadow was a Cobra ninja during the Cold War. Much of Cobra's and G.I. Joe's activities never reached the public's notice during that time. There were rumors that he had ties to Snake Eyes of the G.I. Joes, but the details were unknown even to those at the highest levels. He disappeared toward the end of the Cold War, and only recently reappeared on the radar blip, ironically not long after Snake Eyes did.


 * sheet=

Character Sheet

Abilities: Attribute

Combat Ninja: 2-7

Abilities: Equipment

Arashikage Katana: 6 Omniquipment: 4

Abilities: Skill

Combat: 7-9, Ninja Powers: 8, Survival: 4-8, Vehicle Piloting: 4

Abilities: Technique

Enhanced Hearing: 1 Enhance Willpower: 8

Advantages: Arashikage Clan Snake Eyes

Flaws: Arashikage Clan, Distinguishing Marks, Honor Bond, Lack of a Future, Out of Time, Snake Eyes, Talks Too Much, Terrorist, Vengeful

Languages: ASL, English, French, Japanese, Mandarin, Russian, and Vietnamese

Abilities

Attribute: Combat Ninja (2-7)

Storm Shadow has trained his body to the extreme, pushing himself past normal human limits and showing that even your base born human can achieve super human naturally.

Dexterity 4 Strength 2 (2.5) Toughness 3 Endurance 2 Perception 7 Willpower 6

Something else Storm Shadow has been known for is his tolerance for pain and pushing himself to the limits. He may not be peak condition when pushing himself beyond all reasonable limits, but he could have great physical wounds and still be able to operate beyond that of a normal human being (extremely high pain tolerance and resistance against torture and combat wounds - associated with Endurance and Toughness).

Equipment: Arashikage Katana (6)

Scale: Toughness

Storm Shadow was once the heir to the Arashikage Clan and has completed most all of his training along the side of Snake Eyes. As a result, via an ancient ritual he has forged his own blade within the Temple of the Arashikage. The blades formed of this specific technique are nearly indestructible and are able to cut through most conventional materials with ease. Obviously, these katanas are rare and only belong to members of the Clans Elite (unless stolen, obviously). Each katana is marked with the Arashikage Clan symbol

Equipment: Omniquipment (4)

Though it is possible for Storm Shadow to get ahold of more dangerous arsenal equipment via Cobra, it is not something that he would be able to just walk in, pick up, and walk out with. Usually bazookas and explosives are the highest powered equipment that he can get ahold of with ease.

Storm Shadow has access to all kinds of handguns, sub-machine guns, sniper rifles, and more. He also has access to spy equipment, disguise accessories, fake ID and passport equipment, general resources, and more that he would need to get the job done. From grapple hooks to a motorcycle or car, he just has to grab it and sign it out.

Skill: Combat (7-9)

Tommy is a master in the Arashikage Style, well versed in the Clans techniques such as the Cloak of Chameleon (mimicking others breathing, heartbeat, and circulatory patterns), the Blind Sword (sword and scabbard fighting), The Sleeping Phoenix (able to imitate death), The Long Priest Robe Cut (cutting off someones head in a manner that they hear the wind before their head separates from their body), and more. Tommy is also an 8th degree black belt in several other martial arts and martial arts weapons. The basic expert martial arts techniques such as catching thrown knives and predicting the shots of bullets to dodge is something that comes naturally to him.

While Tommy and Snake Eyes are almost on par (Level 9) with swordsmanship, Snake Eyes is actually better. Snake Eyes is noticeably better to a fellow Master or Legendary, though to someone of less skill the difference would likely be barely noticeable (as a result, they are the same level, both Master swordsman, but still a skill difference).

Snake Eyes is a much more obviously a better martial artist, though Storm Shadow is more versed in trickery that he is not afraid to use. Though both are trained with the same types of weapons (from bare fisted to nunchaku sticks), Tommy has always struggled to match his brother (Level 7).

The one thing that Tommy did excel in beyond his brother however, was ranged weaponry, particularly the long bow (Level 9). This ranged weaponry does extend to throwing stars, throwing knives, many NATO guns and Warsaw guns as well. However, Tommy does have a personal preference for the long bow and only uses modern weaponry when absolutely necessarily even if he is well versed in them.

It should be noted that catching thrown weaponry, breaking on-coming arrows, predicting the path of on-coming bullets and dodging them, do fall under his excelling ability of ranged weaponry (Level 9) and not his normal martial arts.

Skill: Ninja Powers (8)

Tommy is a Master in the Arashikage Style, but it is difficult to be a Master in everything he does, as a result his associated ninja skills are not quite to that level. From stealth to assassination techniques, from shadowing to losing tails, from acrobatics to balance, to even sleight of hand, they are all associated ninja skills.

Tommy makes use of these skills in his dodging of bullets, climbing mountains, combat; to even his covert operations are tied to these skills. These techniques, training, abilities, and knowledge are what not only fuel his other abilities, but also fill in the gaps that would otherwise be present.

From intelligence to sabotage, Tommy is a professional at security system sand in handling cameras during the Cold War and one of the first things he did was pick up information on security systems, electronics, and current day politics when he awoke from cryo-freeze. From planting spy devices and explosives to hiding and ease dropping, Storm Shadow has done it and more.

Skill: Survival (4-8)

Tommy is trained in many environments from forests to jungles, from deserts to urban. He trained with the Arashikage Clan, he trained with the U.S. Army in Vietnam, he trained with Cobra agents, and he pushed himself to his limits (Level 7).

With his training with the Clan, and personal reading, Tommy is somewhat skilled with holistic medicine (Level 4), though not to the extent of his brother Snake Eyes who seemed to pick it up faster than him. This applies to wildlife herbs and plants, as well as the more unusual (almost occultist) remedies.

Tommy has also trained in climbing or mountaineering, from the high snow-capped mountains to the tall buildings of the city, he is comfortable with moving horizontal or vertical. He can run in the jungle without tripping, leap between tree limbs, and free run across roof tops as if born to it (Level 8).

Tommy is also very much a trained hunter. However, do not expect him to handle an animal beyond intimidation of it. He can make a tiger decide it will find better pray elsewhere, but he cannot tame a wild wolf. As a result, Tommy has been said to have the gaze of a predator (Level 6). Intimidating can often be a more prominent means of survival than ones ability to kill.

Skill: Vehicle Piloting (4)

Tommy can drive or fly just about anything he gets his hands on during the Cold War, and he has made a point to brush up on the modernization of vehicles (from ground to air). He does not have the raw talent of some, or the experience of others, but he can certainly get the job done and done better than the typical ground trooper or minion.

Technique: Enhanced Hearing (1)

Limits: Things that muffle or interfere with sound.

A secret of the Arashikage Clan called The Ear That Sees is one that Tommy mastered early on, and to a more extreme fine-tune than his brother Snake Eyes. He is actually able to hear a birds heartbeat from numerous yards away and even through a thick wall, while shooting an arrow and hitting it dead center.

Technique: Enhance Willpower (8)

Limits: Extreme Concentration

A secret of the Arashikage Clan is a technique called the Arashikage Mind-Set. A meditative to almost hypnotic state, it enhances the users mental defenses and can fight off effects of brainwashing and other forms of mind control.

Advantages

Advantage: Arashikage Clan

Tommy is actually the legitimate heir to the Arashikage Clan. Currently he has cousins that have taken that position, but should he return with a cleared name it would be in his right to reclaim it. This includes gaining access to the Arashikage Clans resources and prestige.

In present, he is considered a black sheep (see the flaw version of this). Even then, he carries the renown and infamy associated with his once held position in the Clan, the fame of his training and talent along with his adopted brothers. Though his name will be forever linked with his brothers - Snake Eyes - he still has the power to inspire fear and awe in members of the clan with his name alone.

In great times of need, many of the older members may turn a blind eye to his current status and even assist him, though most would favor Snake Eyes over him. The young ones may be willing to assist in a twisted version of hero worship because of the legacy he has left behind thirty years ago.

Advantage: Snake Eyes

Snake Eyes is Tommy's adopted brother. They grew up together, trained together, served together, and owe each other their lives. There is a bond between them that can never be broken by anyone, and an almost obsession between them. They are tied together by fate. If one were to fall to their death, the other would risk their own lives to catch them.

Flaws

Flaw: Arashikage Clan

Tommy is the proper heir to the Arashikage Clan, but he is currently believed to have assassinated the Hard Master out of jealousy of Snake Eyes. Though this is incorrect, he has not bothered to clear his name with the now elders of the Clan, and a result is not normally welcomed in Japan or in the Arashikage Clan dealings. Publicly within the Clan he is outright outcast, but individuals may not feel the same way or may feel conflicted. It still carries a difficult taboo that would take more than a simple explanation to clear up.

Flaw: Distinguishing Marks

Tommy has an Arashikage Clan tattoo on his right outer wrist. It is done in red ink. It is something that all those that are trained in the Arashikage Style get.

Flaw: Honor Bond

If Tommy makes a promise, he will keep it no matter the cost. The honor of his family means everything, and though he will paint himself as evil to achieve his goals, his goals are to redeem the honor of his family. Even though he fights with Snake Eyes, he would never truly take that last stroke to end his brothers life, and so on. No matter his selfishness, Tommy is a man of his word and this could potentially be used against it as nothing will stop him from doing what he feels is the right and honorable thing to do.

Flaw: Lack of a Future

Tommy currently lacks a future. He lost his desire to clear his name with his Clan when the best time presented itself because Snake Eyes was gone. He lost any desire for a normal life, and his obsession over his own brother is far from healthy. His world resolves around honor and his brother, and he does not know any other way to live.

Flaw: Out of Time

Tommy is working hard to catch up on technology and the lack of modern education that he will need to fully excel at his trained skills. Though he is studying intensely, there may come situations or technology he has not yet studied or come across, and he may end up a little over his head with using computers (hacking is not a possibility). Furthermore, he does not know any of the current pop culture, he would not get the cross dressing bands that are popular in Japan and Korea, and he would boggle at the intensity and themes of anime.

Flaw: Snake Eyes

Just as Tommy's brother can be an advantage he can also be a flaw. Tommy can often be jealous over Snake Eyes and especially around the Arashikage Clan act like he has a chip on his shoulder that he has never quite gotten over. The reason Tommy is actually as talented a ninja as he is, is because of Snake Eyes. What came naturally to Snake Eyes, Tommy had to always work hard at to even hope to match him. The only thing Tommy could do that he naturally excelled at was his archery and the techniques he used with it. Otherwise, everything else was a challenge to even be on par with Snake Eyes. Though his brother never strived to act superior to him, his humility would also cut Tommy deep because of the heirs own pride.

Flaw: Talks Too Much

Tommy is arrogant, and as a result he can talk too much. This is most apparently with his brother Snake Eyes. From taunting, to mockery, to just jabbering away, Tommy just cannot seem to shut up around his brother. He can avoid talking for days around Cobra only members, but if he feels comfortable with someone they will realize that Tommy is actually quite talkative and can even be friendly in the: I be awesome kinda way. Hey, hes a ninja, course he is awesome. Alright, so he can be a jerk sometimes, well, most of the time, but Tommy has his moments.

Flaw: Terrorist

Even if Storm Shadow cleared his name by revealing he was an undercover agent within Cobra to find his Uncle's assassin, there are just those that would never trust him. The fact he has acted like a terrorist, done terrible things while under cover, will forever haunt him and follow after him. It is something he will never be able to get rid of and would only be able to cover up with excuses and explanations that just simply doesn't erase the past.

Flaw: Vengeful

Tommy is vengeful if he feels he is wronged. His emotions can end up controlling him; he can lose his temper, to even be consumed with it such as avenging his Uncles murder to the point of destroying his own life and future. It would be unwise to cross Tommy, because of his obsessive need to see his own version of justice done to the point of being blinded by it.


 * associations=

{{Association }}
 * Name=Arashikage Clan
 * Link=Arashikage Clan
 * Image=Arashikage_Clan_Symbol.jpg
 * Text=The Arashikage Clan is an ancient Ninja Clan that has adapted over the years to modern warfare while respecting their heritage. They have completely developed their own namesake fighting style rather than training in normal Ninjitsu style.  They are often bound by a long history of blood ties, and have a very strong form of honor.  They typically have two masters that handle the training, the Soft Master and the Hard Master.

{{Association }}
 * Name=Snake Eyes
 * Link=Snake Eyes
 * Image=Snake_and_storm_by_dnbdjq45.jpg
 * Text=Snake Eyes is Tommy's adopted brother and raised in the Arashikage Clan just as he was. The two are closer than twins, and have more miscommunications and violent fights than normal brothers.  Without the other, they are incomplete.

{{Association }}
 * Name=Underworld
 * Link=Underworld
 * Image=Underworld_Logo.jpg
 * Text=A group for criminals, villains, mercenaries, and anyone else with ties to the seedy parts of the world.

Formerly
= Gallery =


 * history=

Tommy S. Arashikage, born to Clan Arashikage, nephew of the Hard Master and heir, met Snake-Eyes when they were children. Thinking the boy a thief, Tommy tried to stop him and the fight that came from it impressed the Hard Master. Snake Eyes was given his namesake and became a brother to Tommy.

At first they had difficulties, but the two quickly became close and inseparable. Tommy had his jealousies and Snake Eyes humility sometimes made it worse, but there was still closeness between the two. When Tommy's family moved to America to spread the influence of the Clan and establish a new base of operations, Snake Eyes followed. When the Vietnam War began, Snake Eyes joined the U.S. Army and Tommy followed.

During the war, the two brothers saved one another's lives countless times, always having each others backs. It gave them experience they needed, but after the war they both realized they needed to complete their training. They returned to Japan and the Hard Master.

During a training session with Snake Eyes, the Hard Master was murdered by one of Storm Shadows arrows. Snake Eyes saw his brother flee from the scene, never to return. For years they did not meet until it was at odds as Storm Shadow had joined Cobra during the Cold War, searching for answers on who assassinated the Hard Master to clear his name. Never once, did he confess to Snake Eyes the truth, rather portraying the cold-hearted betrayer and assassin everyone thought him to be.

During the war between G.I. Joe and Cobra, Snake Eyes disappeared in a blast. Storm Shadow was devastated, but he never whispered a word of the pain to anyone. He continued on his mission, and when he finally found Z as the killer, hunted him down. Believing he killed Z, he now had nothing else to live for, even his desire to return to the Clan died with Snake Eyes.

When the chance to enter cyro-freeze in a new experiment by Cobra was announced, Storm Shadow volunteered. If it killed him, he would finally have peace. If he lived, he would not know it. Little did Storm Shadow know that thirty years later he would awaken with the news that his brother lived, and a whole new world of technology to learn. The world has changed, and Storm Shadow realized he would need to change with it if he wanted to survive.

}}