Vanu

A human monk whose body came to be shared with the spirit of a Great Ape.

## Basic Info **Full Name:** Vanu zen Atma **Species:** Human-Ape Hybrid (Permanent) **Height:** 192cm **Age:** Unknown. Very old, but maintains a young appearance. Does not appear to age. **Eye color:** Brown **Hair color:** Black **Physique:** the lean, corded muscle of a lifelong martial artist, overlaid with the explosive power of a great ape. His torso is broad and V-shaped, with powerful shoulders and arms that appear slightly longer than a standard human's. **Garb:** The traditional red, wide-legged trousers of his former order, secured by a thick, heavy-duty rope belt (manila hemp). Does not wear any other clothing or equipment. **Weapon:** A simple-looking wooden staff tipped with heavy iron rings. It bears the scars of countless battles. It acts as a mild amplifier for spiritual abilities. ## Origin **Vanu zen Atma** was a high-ranking monk of the Sun Peaks monastery, and one of the very few allowed to make the climb to the highest peak and commune with the spirits. One afternoon, as **Vanu** communed with the great spirit of **Makkun of the White Sun**, a Great Ape spirit of life and primal rage, a massive storm started brewing. **Vanu** prioritized his spiritual communion and endured the storm, but as it raged on it ended up taking his life. Determined to not let him go to waste, **Makkun** bound itself to his dead body, holding **Vanu**'s spirit in place and restoring life to his body. Being saved, however, came at a cost. In order to house its incredible power in the human body, **Makkun**'s spirit infused itself further into it, permanently marking it with ape-like features: the skeletal structure and musculature expanded substantially, his canines grew, a tail appeared, his big toes split from the feet like thumbs, his ears became broad and pointy, fur grew over his legs and forearms as well as a long mane that now occupies his formerly bald head. His torso and arms are covered in what appear to be polynesian-style black interlocking markings, which are not ink, but the spiritual scars of where **Makkun** held onto **Vanu**'s body, often referred to as **Makkun's Grip**. ## The Awakened State While his altered body is far more powerful than his former human form, it is still far too weak to withstand the full power of **Makkun**'s spirit, and thus most of the time the spirit slumbers. In emergency situations, he can awaken the spirit and channel his raw power to aid in combat or any predicaments. This **Awakened** state cannot be maintained for long periods, and requires rest and meditation to recover from the extensive physical and mental cost. During the **Awakened** state, his eyes and markings (Makkun's Grip) glow a brillian white, like white-hot embers, a symptom of the spirit's immense power flowing through the mortal body. ## The Communing **Vanu** can meditate to commune with the great spirit. When he does so, his markings glow like during the **Awakened** state, but his power does not increase and it does not take a toll on his body and mind. Communing with the spirit helps maintain the balance in **Vanu**'s body and recover from the aftermath of the **Awakened** state, however it is not easy to achieve. Being at peace and/or in highly spiritual places helps establish a bridge to the spirit within. The ideal pose to achieve this is with closed eyes, sitting with the legs crossed, and a mudra his order calls _The Fists Of The Destroyer_: Fists clenched on the lap, butting up against each other, knuckles to knuckles. ## Combat and Abilities As a senior monk, Vanu was masterfully trained in hand-to-hand combat as well as the vajra / quarter staff. These styles were later adapted to include wielding the staff with his tail or his versatile feet, and using the tail as a grapple or a whip. His heightened spiritual / psychic sensitivity allows him to conjure small temporary light barriers, sense the moods or emotions of other creatures, as well as commune spiritually with other highly attuned individuals. ## Makkun of the White Sun **Makkun**'s spirit takes the form of a giant baboon with an incredibly muscular body, more akin to that of a gorilla, and his head sports an incredible mane. Its fur appears to be made of short white flames with a very faint yellow tint. **Makkun**'s spirit acts as both a power source and a spiritual guide to **Vanu**.

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