etraya application

⏵ player information
name and pronouns: Abel (she/her)
age: 21+
contact: unbearable

⏵ character information
name: Roronoa Zoro
canon: One Piece (animanga)
age: 21
canon point: post-Zou, prior to his arrival in Wano
history: tl;dr Zoro got lost, decided to help make Luffy the King of the Pirates
abilities:

physical strength and durability: While Zoro is considered a ‘normal’ human by his world’s standards (unenhanced by devil fruit abilities or modifications), his strength and speed are anything but. At any given time, he can be seen training, often with weights several times his own size. He is capable of holding his own against monsters and super-powered individuals, and lifting things as large as collapsed buildings, despite serious injuries.

His durability and endurance are also well beyond any human level, surviving several near-death experiences. Given his role as crew combatant and his lust for battle, he is injured frequently, tanking damage that would kill the average person while still continuing to fight. One of the most prominent displays of this is during Thriller Bark, where he agrees to take on the pain and fatigue suffered by Luffy, paired with his own grievous injuries. Kuma warned that it would kill him, and by all reasonable measure, it should have - However, he not only survived, but was able to remain standing and conscious until he was found by Sanji after the fact.

swordsmanship: Zoro’s primary skillset, and the focus of much of his training. His best known for his use of Three Sword Style, which is exactly what it sounds like – the user wields a katana in each hand, and a third in their mouth. The majority of his repertoire consists of powerful slashing and cutting attacks, with a few notable exceptions. In ranged combat, he has been shown to create compressed air projectiles or even whirlwinds to dispense of his enemies. Thanks to Kin’emon, he has also learned to cut through fire by imitating his Foxfire Style.

While Zoro is most comfortable with three swords, he is proficient in both One and Two Sword Styles as well. He has also used something called No Sword Style (yes, really), recreating certain slash attacks with his bare hands.

One of his most powerful, albeit rarely used, abilities is Asura, or Nine Sword Style. While its exact workings are not made clear, Zoro is able to manifest illusory arms and heads, allowing him to wield nine swords at once. The additional limbs do appear to be solid, although their appearance is brief and likely taxing on Zoro’s energy.

At present, his sword roster consists of Wado Ichimonji, Sandai Kitetsu, and Shusui. While Shusui is his favoured weapon for single sword combat, due to its nigh unbreakable black blade and slight increase to his destructive power, there are no stand out abilities from any of them.

haki: Haki refers to the ability to utilize one’s own spiritual energy in order to perform specific extraordinary feats. There are three recorded types of Haki – Observation, Armament, and Colour of Supreme King/Conqueror’s Haki. Like Luffy, Zoro is one of the few individuals capable of using all three. (As he is unaware of his latent Conqueror’s Haki at his current canon point, and thus unable to use it, I won’t be touching on it here.)

He specializes in the use of Armament Haki, having trained under Mihawk in its application. Commonly used to armor the body against attack, Zoro also uses this same trait to reinforce the blades of his swords; it not only prevents them from breaking, but also strengthens the cutting power of his own blows. On multiple occasions, Zoro has been shown able to slice through the Haki of other skilled practitioner’s due to his superior mastery of the technique.

While not one of the most powerful users of Observation Haki in the series, Zoro is still able to use it, granting him additional awareness of surrounding creatures and individuals. He can detect general information, such as strength or general presence, allowing him a keen awareness of surrounding threats to both himself and his crew.

navigation (???): Typically played off as a joke, Zoro’s inability to follow direction is a feat in itself. Regardless of how obvious the route may seem, Zoro can and will get lost. If a building has one hall and a single exit, he is still incapable of finding it. Sitting on an animal, with no need to steer? He will somehow manage to wander off. It’s impressive, really.

personality:

On the surface, Zoro comes off as gruff and distant, particularly in contrast to some of his more extroverted crewmates. He is straightforward and unapologetically blunt, which can step on some toes; he is very much the sort who says what he means, and means what he says. While his short temper is often played up for comedic effect, he’s one of the more level-headed Straw Hats. He’s quick to yell over trivial things and has limited patience for stupidity or embarrassing situations. That said, he remains calm when it counts, approaching situations from a more objective viewpoint. Where others may tread more delicately, Zoro prefers to cut to the heart of the matter; he is often the one to remind Luffy of harsher realities, keeping him grounded.

That brusque honesty can often make him appear cold or unsympathetic - But the truth of it is, emotions are just not his strong suit. Beneath those rough edges, Zoro has a much softer heart than he lets on, and often struggles when expressing emotions outside of anger or battle-driven confidence. He loves his crew fiercely, and like so many things Zoro does, he shows that love in his own way – Through his unwavering protection, and by extension, helping them in the pursuit of their own dreams.

Despite his own difficulties communicating feelings, Zoro is quite perceptive when it comes to those of his companions. He is one of the first to notice something amiss when they reunite with Nami in Zou, based only on her subtle shift in demeanour. This is demonstrated frequently with Chopper, such as the Davy Back Fight, where he offered the firm words needed to calm him down. Even amidst their constant bickering and rivalry, there is a deeper understanding between himself and Sanji as fellow protectors of the crew; Zoro sees every member of their crew as irreplaceable, recognizing their worth even when they themselves may not. His affection is not always conventional, expressed instead through his actions, and his silent, resolute support.

His respect for Luffy, in particular, is unparalleled. Zoro wholeheartedly believes he is the man who will become King of the Pirates. He sees his own ambition as meaningless if he is unable to defend his captain, and is fully prepared to sacrifice his life and dream to see him succeed – A sharp contrast to their initial meeting, where he’d warned Luffy not to stand between him and his goal. After failing to be there for him at Marineford, Zoro sets aside his pride, bowing before Mihawk to ask for his mentorship, that he might better help Luffy in the New World.

Much of his current mindset can be traced back to Kuina, whose loss he continues to carry – not only emotionally, but also symbolically, through his wielding of her sword, Wado Ichimonji. Where their rivalry once challenged his ambition and drive, her absence continues to do so. He carries the weight not only of their shared dream, but also the promise he made to her – that one of them would go on to become the World’s Greatest Swordsman.

Strength is a recurring theme with Zoro; while his physical prowess is undeniable, his ideas of strength are inextricably tied to his own ability to defend what’s important. He frequently grapples with an underlying anxiety regarding the limitations of his own ability in that regard, and more, the potential consequences should it prove insufficient. Whenever he has struggled against a previous opponent, such as Kuma or Mr. 1, Zoro re-doubles his training efforts to a near punishing degree, berating himself for not being ‘strong enough.’

That rigid sense of responsibility and near impossible standard set for himself can lead Zoro to shoulder burdens he doesn’t necessarily need to. He regards his own failings as personal obstacles to be overcome – If he’s injured, it’s only because he wasn’t strong enough. He isn’t one to seek help or recognition, and prefers to endure hardships in silence, rather than burden his crew with his own perceived shortcomings.

His reputation as a swordsman has been well-earned, and Zoro is a ruthless opponent - He thrills at a good fight, actively seeking out larger challenges. Although a brutal combatant, he is not without his own code of honour. He will avoid striking from behind unless left with no other option, and if he is forced to engage non-fighters, he uses the backs of his blades to avoid inflicting lasting harm (although he sometimes fails in that, due to his monstrous strength).

samples: tdm top level, one + two