Shiki Tohno (遠野 志貴, Tōno Shiki?) is a member of the Tohno household living in Souya. He possesses the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, Mystic Eyes that allow him to see "death." He is the main protagonist of Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon-, Tsukihime -The other side of red garden- and the Tsukihime Remake series.
Profile[]
Background[]
Shiki is originally a member of the Demon Hunter clan Nanaya, being the son of the head of the Nanaya clan Kiri Nanaya, until its eradication by Kouma Kishima. During the night of the massacre of the Nanaya clan, Shiki was awoken by an unusual commotion. His family are acting strange, they are being awfully noisy, but he cannot understand why. In a dream-like state an unknown woman's voice calls out to him, telling him how things could have been different. His family was being massacred, but he was simply a child, so he couldn't understand. Before long, it was his turn as well, Kouma turned towards him, but his mother covered him, protecting him from Kouma's killing blow.[2] However, he was later adopted by Makihisa Tohno due to him sharing the same unisex name with Makihisa's eldest son, Shiki (四季, SHIKI?), becoming the adoptive brother of SHIKI Tohno and Akiha Tohno.[3]
The Inversion incident 7 years ago.
Seven years before the start of the game, he was involved in a life-threatening accident, which led to anemic symptoms and left him with a large scar on his chest. Due to these symptoms, he suffers from frequent collapsing and fainting. Although Shiki did not know it, the Tohno family's demon blood led to inhuman urges in all its members; every descendant eventually became insane from its effects, a process called "inversion impulse". When this happens, the person loses all ability for conscious thought and becomes a monster with only the mind to kill and consume others. One hot summer day as Shiki played with his brother SHIKI and sister Akiha, SHIKI inverted without warning, and immediately attacked Akiha. Shiki managed to shield Akiha at the cost of his own life; the wound that SHIKI caused by piercing him in the chest became the large scar that Shiki would bear from that day forward.[4][3]
It is the duty of the Tohno's family head to police demon activity in the area, and specifically to execute any Tohno who underwent inversion so that he or she cannot do the sort of damage that such inhuman beings inevitably do. Makihisa arrived on the scene immediately and, without a second thought, killed his own son. However, neither Shiki nor SHIKI died that day. Although Shiki did not know it then, his sister Akiha provided him with half of her own lifeforce, keeping him alive. In turn, SHIKI instinctively stole half of Shiki's borrowed lifeforce to avoid his own death. It is this lack of energy that causes Shiki's anemic tendencies.[3]
Sometime later, Shiki woke up after being in a coma. The doctor tells him its a miracle that he is alive. He was in an accident and was basically considered dead. But more than anything, what Shiki wants to know from the doctor is why the hospital is full of scribbles everywhere. The doctor, talking behind his back, starts to suspect brain damage. One day, Shiki tries tracing the scribbles of his bed, and without any resistance, it breaks apart. He is spotted by a nurse and then scolded by the doctor. Yet when they ask how he did it, his story about tracing the scribbles is treated as a lie.[2]
Shiki meets Aoko for the first time
One day, he gets fed up with the hospital, and runs outside until he comes unto a wide plain. There he encounters an unusual red-haired woman. She is called Aoko Aozaki and is willing to talk to the day on equal terms, without treating him as a child. Thereafter, Aoko and Shiki continue meeting upon the plain outside the hospital. One day, Shiki shows off his unusual ability. Before he can destroy the tree, Aoko slaps him and tells him off rather harshly. She explains that he should never use his ability to destroy, but promises to help him. The next day, Aoko brings him a pair of glasses. When Shiki puts them on, he notices that he can no longer see the lines and is overjoyed. He declares that it's almost like magic, to which Aoko responds that she actually is a Magic-user. Aoko tells him his ability can see the end of things, and that the ability is his to use as he will, despite her earlier harsh words. Shiki understands it is the last he will see of her as he parts from the plain.[2]
Shiki is attending high school in the 2010s, being a student at Metropolitan Souya High School.
Appearance[]
Personality[]
Shiki is an amicable individual and a normal high school student most of the time. Due to his close brush with death, he is not overly concerned about dying, and instead seeks to cherish every moment of his life - 'just living is enough' is his perspective on life. He has a remarkable amount of empathy, not having much of a problem placing himself in the shoes of others, such as when he empathized and felt regret for the life and eventual fate his adoptive brother SHIKI suffered. He is also very forgiving, examples of this include the time he forgave Ciel for attempting to kill him and seemingly manipulating him and also towards Arcueid who attempted to harm Shiki and drink his blood. Because he sees death due to his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, Shiki values living and experiencing it. Many of Shiki's values were taught to him by his Teacher, Aoko Aozaki.[2]
He has a darker side, that of his bloodline's, the Nanaya. The instincts and skills he had learned at a young age are buried deep within Shiki and have proven capable of manifesting themselves in dire situations, such as in his battle against Vlov Arkhangel. Although not on the level of an alternate personality, the Nanaya side of Shiki is the highly trained killer within him and thus is much colder, composed and calmer. Only once has his Nanaya side surfaced in a similar way to that of an alternate personality, and that was under great stress and a very difficult situation for Shiki. The other times, Shiki is merely filled with a desire to kill, and instinctual knowledge on how to do it. Due to the murderous impulses he was born with Shiki's behavior can change from being friendly and kind to someone who follows his libidinal drive, want for violence and lust for killing, this only happens when he comes into contact with supernatural beings. Despite fixated on death and killing, with the mere prospect of it brought him the utmost joy, he displays somewhat normal interactions with people like Miyako Arima and Hisui, even Noel when she is yet to be a Dead Apostle in Ciel's Route.
Role[]
Tsukihime[]
Arcueid Route[]
Ciel Route[]
In the Normal End of Ciel's route, when Shiki stabs himself to kill Roa, Ciel sacrifices her own life to keep Shiki from dying from his suicide attempt.[5][6] It ultimately ends with Shiki training to becoming an Executor after being recruited by Mario Gallo Bestino in hopes that he can find a way to bring Ciel back to life before he himself dies as well.[6]
Melty Blood: Type Lumina[]
Noticing that tonight's moon was ominous, Shiki decides to patrol the Tohno Mansion.[7] Outside the mansion, he encounters Noel trespassing on the Tohno family grounds. After conversing with her, Shiki decides to engage in combat against her.[8] Later on he encounters Vlov Arkhangel who Shiki accuses of being behind the vampire disturbances in town. Vlov denies being responsible for the 'sorry' state of town. Shiki states that the sight of a vampire is enough to make him almost lose himself in anger. Upon Shiki's statement, Vlov remarks that the wounds may have faded, but the scars remain. Both decide to engage in combat, with Shiki ending up the victor.[9] Later on, Shiki remarks that he would rather not be facing such an opponent again. Deciding to rest, Shiki notices a blond woman walking. He, the vessel known as Shiki Tohno, heard something shatter. Shiki realizes that the night is not over yet and that at that moment his real destiny with the vampires began.[10]
Abilities[]
Combat[]
Shiki's knife in the Remake
Shiki's primary weapon is a small knife, a relic of the Nanaya family named Nanatsu-Yoru (七夜, Nanaya?, Seven Nights). It is a switchblade with a plain hilt, with its blade and hilt of a length around 10cm. The blade can alternately be called the Nanaya, taking after Shiki's real surname. The meaning of the name is the same as well as the kanji.
Shiki slashing one of Vlov's hounds
Because of his Nanaya training as a child, Shiki possesses excellent physical ability, capable of feats comparable to at least an Olympic-level athlete. As a child, Shiki was taught some of the Nanaya Assassination Arts by his family, but he stopped training with them around the age of 10 and eventually forgot them. Despite this, he still subconsciously remembers his training, and is able to instinctually call upon his childhood skills. Shiki displays remarkable skill with his knife, such as being able to easily cut down Vlov's hounds and The Dead.[11][12][13] Shiki is able to react and respond quickly towards attacks that are both long range and short range.[12][13] He is also a formidable tactician, being able to come up with well thought out plans to take down his enemies.[12][13] Shiki is capable of quickly figuring out his opponents' attacks, defenses and maneuvers.[12][13] He also has some training in stealth.[12][13] He possesses the Nanaya family's characteristic murderous impulse against non-humans, but this appears to be, in most cases, a controllable impulse that is mainly meant to enhance his Nanaya Arts. In Type Lumina, several of Shiki's and Aoko's moves strongly resemble each other's, implying that Aoko taught Shiki some martial arts.[14]
His endurance has a ceiling due to his limitations as a human, and his battle style usually involves guarding and dodging until the chance for a decisive attack presents itself.[12][13] When he is in dangerously close proximity to death, his Nanaya persona resurfaces and he regains the basic Nanaya Arts that he lost from Makihisa Tohno's hypnosis. As Shiki Nanaya, he becomes an assassin who is focused completely on eliminating his target. In this state, it seems that he is even more difficult to kill than usual; however, this is merely a facade. All he does is ignore any sense of pain or threat to his life in order to kill his target through sheer force of will; this creates the illusion that he is somehow capable of delaying his death for as long as he needs to.
Dr. Arach remarks that Shiki's body is specialized for burst of movement; his bones are lighter than the usual human, almost like a bird's, and his muscles are structured unusually. However, as she made these comments under the belief that Shiki was a half-oni like his adoptive sister, it may be a misjudgment.[15]
Mystic Eyes of Death Perception[]
Shiki Tohno with his Mystic Eyes activated from the OP of Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon-.
A special power that awoke in Shiki Tohno as the aftereffect of an accident seven years ago. Mystic Eyes that can apprehend "the lines vulnerable to death" ー the concept of a "time of death" inherently contained within all things.[16]
As opposed to the "physical phenomena that can be attained through modern technology", it is a "phenomenon that cannot be attained no matter what". Tracing these "lines of death" allows for the target to be severed and killed (in this case it is not the cut that kills, but death resulting in the target being cut).[16] It is comparable to Magic, bypassing causality and conservation of energy to actualize death.[17]
Although Shiki can suppress his power to a level that doesn't impede his daily life thanks to the Mystic Eye Killer glasses he once received from his teacher (Aoko Aozaki), the same cannot be said for when he runs into extreme situations. Ultimately, it becomes possible to not only see the "lines" and "points" of living and inanimate things, but also the death even of space and existence.[16]
In the Normal End of Ciel's route, Mario Gallo Bestino states that he estimates Shiki has about a decade left to live before he succumbs to the side effects of his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception.[6]
Vampirism[]
Shiki jumps between buildings using his enhanced physical abilities
In Ciel's route, Shiki becomes the new host of Roa after the death of his eighteenth incarnation SHIKI, due to the spiritual link between the brothers. As a result, Shiki slowly becomes a vampire and thus gains the advantages of a Dead Apostle, such as enhanced strength, speed, senses, and regeneration. His physical abilities further increase dramatically at night; he can run fifty kilometers per hour, leap up to twenty meters in the air, and jump thirty meters between buildings.[18]
As he remains partially human, Shiki is resistant to sunlight and he does not seem to require blood to survive. Conversely, he cannot survive the same wounds a full vampire like Roa could, and he still needs to breathe oxygen.[6] Relying on his vampiric abilities accelerates his body's transformation; in the True End, it reaches the point where Shiki's body will not return to normal even after Roa is gone.[19]
As Roa's strength grows, Shiki becomes able to speak with him and see his memories. This also allows Roa to offer Shiki advice and criticism during battle.[19]
Magecraft[]
In the True End of Ciel's route, Shiki learns Roa's Gravity-based Magecraft, aiding in his maneuverability by redirecting the trajectory of his falls toward specified objects. He does this by using the nerves in his left hand as makeshift Magic Circuits, and risks burning them to ash if he overuses the ability.[18]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9
[] Tsukihime Material I - CHARACTER Profile: Shiki Tohno, p.22-23 Shiki Tohno
- Gender: Male
- Age: 17
- Blood type: AB
- Height: 173cm
- Weight: 57kg
- Birthday: October 15th
- Alignment: True Unknown
- Likes: Effort, relationships, thoughtfulness, large cats
- Dislikes: Vampires, shiritori, self-contained lifeforms
- Natural enemy: Infinity, Chaos, Perfection
Comment from the illustrator: The protagonist of the game, tragically given eyes that perceive “lines of death” in everything. Since this is a first-person POV VN, he has only one normal sprite, but maybe the biggest amount of battle sprites.遠野 志貴
- 性別：男性
- 年齢：１７歳
- 血液型：ＡB
- 身長：１７３ｃｍ
- 体重：５７ｋｇ
- 生日: １０月１５日
- 属性：不明・不明
- 好きな物: 努力、人間関係、思いやり、大型の猫
- 嫌いな物: 吸血鬼、しりとり、自己完結している生命
- 天敵: 無限、混沌、完全
COMMENT from STAFF
あらゆるモノに宿る「死の線」を迎える目を持ってしまった、本作の主人公。 主人公視点のノベルゲームという形式のため、通常立ち絵は一枚だけですが、バトル用立ち絵は最多クラス。(武内崇) - Gender: Male
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon- - Prologue: Glass Moon
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon- - Moon Princess route - Day 13: "The Lunar World"
- ↑ Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon- - Moon Princess route - Day 12: "Night of Ill-Omen"
- ↑ Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon- - Rainbow in the Night route - Normal End - Day 14: "Stone without End"
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon- - Rainbow in the Night route - Normal End - Day 15: "Rainbow at Night"
- ↑ Melty Blood: Type Lumina - Shiki Tohno's Arcade Route - Prologue
- ↑ Melty Blood: Type Lumina - Shiki Tohno's Arcade Route - vs. Noel
- ↑ Melty Blood: Type Lumina - Shiki Tohno's Arcade Route - vs. Vlov Arkhangel
- ↑ Melty Blood: Type Lumina - Shiki Tohno's Arcade Route - Ending
- ↑ Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon- - Day 2: "A Day of Nothing"
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon- - Moon Princess route - Day 5: "Infernal River of Blood II"
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon- - Rainbow in the Night route - Day 5: "Distant Ocean of Frost"
- ↑ Melty Blood: Type Lumina - Aoko and Shiki moveset similarities
- ↑ Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon- - Moon Princess route - Day 6: "Cerulean Stigma"
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2
[] Tsukihime Material I - GLOSSARY: Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, p.98 Mystic Eyes of Death Perception
A special power that awoke in Tohno Shiki as the aftereffect of an accident seven years ago. Mystic Eyes that can apprehend "the lines vulnerable to death" ー the concept of a "time of death" inherently contained within all things.
As opposed to the "physical phenomena that can be attained through modern technology", it is a "phenomenon that cannot be attained no matter what". Tracing these "lines of death" allows for the target to be severed and killed (in this case it is not the cut that kills, but death resulting in the target being cut).
Although Shiki can suppress his power to a level that doesn't impede his daily life thanks to the Mystic Eye Killer glasses he once received from his teacher (Aozaki Aoko), the same cannot be said for when he runs into extreme situations. Ultimately, it becomes possible to not only see the "lines" and "points" of living and inanimate things, but also the death even of space and existence.直死の魔眼
七年前の事故の後遺症として、遠野志貴に発現した異能の力。万物に予め内包された「死期」という概念⸺モノの死に易い線､を捉える魔眼。
『現在の技術でも到達できる物理現象』に対する『どうあっても到達できない現象』のひとつ。この死の線､をなぞる事で対象に切断と死を与える事を可能とする(これは切断によって殺害するのではなく、殺害の結果として対象が切断されている)。
かつて先生(蒼崎青子) から譲り受けた魔眼殺しの眼鏡によって日常生活に支障ないレベルまで力を抑えられるが、志貴が極限状態へと陥った際にはそのかぎりではない。
究極的には生物のみならず非生物の「線」や『点』、さらには空間や存在の死まで視覚で捉える事が可能とされる。 - ↑ Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon- - Rainbow in the Night route - Day 8: "Reverse Hatching II"
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon- - Rainbow in the Night route - True End - Day 14: "Stone without End"
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon- - Rainbow in the Night route - True End - Day 15: "The Blue of a Bright Day"