Genji

Genji's always struggled to put on weight, so he's already thin with wiry muscles when he arrives at The Arena. He's long held both yoga and karate practices as part of his daily and weekly routines, respectively, so he's spry.

Genji had adorned a samurai robe for a costumed roleplaying party he was attending the night the bombs fell. Even when the survivors acquire more clothes, he wears his samurai robes for the whole journey to Willowmoor, becoming rather visible in them.

When the village is eventually built, Genji swaps the samurai costume for robes in a similar style made specially for him by tailors, Sadie and Mabel.

Part of the reason Genji chose the samurai character was purely to be able to carry around the katana sword he inherited from his grandfather. In the new world, it becomes an extension of him, always attached to his side on a belt so that he may easily draw it in a time of need.

Genji was born in the Before Times, so not much is known about his life before the bombs dropped. He's Japanese American, and he made yearly visits to a grandfather who still lived in Japan. It's also known that Genji worked in retail at a store that sells technological goods.

Asexual. He learned this in his later teenage years, answering so many pressing questions that had plagued him through most of his adolescence. Though he doesn't tout the label openly (he presents as straight, though he's more attracted to people than parts if he ever finds himself attracted at all), he's not ashamed or embarrassed, willing to share the truth with anyone who asks.

Genji was in a bar on the south side of town when the initial bombs fell. The bar collapsed in on itself from the force of the aftershocks, and Genji awoke a few hours later, the lone survivor. He spent several more hours digging himself out of the rubble before setting off to find help. His trauma was apparent then as he marched on with the sole mission of saving his roleplaying companions, despite having seen for himself how dead they were when he left the collapsed bar.

He suffers additional trauma when he's lost in a neighborhood near the arena for two months after going missing during a blizzard. He must do humiliating things to survive, and more than once he entertains the idea that his companions didn't value him enough to search for him (though he knows and later confirms this isn't true).

Genji has grown up with the most advanced technology, his dad being one of the early adapters of computer technology back in the 1980's. He prefers other knowledge, though: karate and yoga and tracking and fishing... He's also equally fluent in English and Japanese.

Genji likes to say he follows the way of the samurai, but what that really means to him is to always behave in such a way that his ancestors would be proud since they're always watching. His belief in their omniscience has fluctuated over the years, but adhering to that belief has never steered him wrong.

Like many of the survivors, Genji is motivated by a desire to return to some form of normal so that he can continue to live his life. He will later become even more motivated by a desire to see Willowmoor prosper.

Genji is a black belt in traditional karate. He's an excellent tracker and can catch a fish with his bare hands - certainly handy skills to have in an apocalypse. He's also a savvy peacemaker, consistently mediating between frustrating parties who wouldn't be able to compromise otherwise.

Even though everyone considers him their friend, Genji struggles to make and maintain close friendships. This is something he brought with him from the Before Times. He's memorable, likeable in small doses...but people grow bored with him when they get too close.

Likes

• Social justice
• Martial arts films
• Anime

Dislikes

• Corporations
• Natto

Genji joins the Advisory Council, then the Caravan Conclave that replaces it. When Willowmoor establishes its system of government, he'll remain part of the group of legislators as the Lead Scout.

Genji came to the arena alone, so he has no former familial or friendly ties. He makes some close friends, primarily Rhea, Joan, Alli, and Adam.

Genji was brought up in traditional Shinto belief, though it was more of a cultural practice than a spiritual one. If he believes in anything, its the teachings of yoga - not strictly a religion, but he treats it like a spiritual practice if he treats anything like one.

Genji can be awkward in prolonged social situations, but he's a pro at brief meetings or gatherings with lots of people. He simply treats others with respect and shows an interest in them, both of which go a long way.

Genji likes martial arts, yoga, and spending time outdoors. He'd like to spend more time practicing his kanji since he's rusty at reading Japanese for however proficient he is at speaking it.

He has no pets.