Post by Melissa Foxworthy on Oct 17, 2008 19:00:50 GMT -5
In a world where humans coexist with creatures called Yoma (Ñýħ, Yoma?) sentient monsters that feed on human organs, a nameless and highly secretive organization has created an order of superhuman warriors called Claymores to protect humans from the Yoma, for a large fee. One Claymore warrior, Clare, struggles to hold on to her humanity while she fights the Yoma.
As a child, Clare was adopted by the Claymore Teresa. Teresa rebels against the organization and is subsequently killed, so Clare volunteers to become a Claymore using Teresa's flesh to take revenge on the Awakened Being, an exceptionally powerful form of Yoma, who killed her. With determination and her human friend Raki by her side, Clare overcomes her low demonic power by honing the skills she inherited from Teresa, and other Claymores. As the series progresses, she becomes stronger and a better fighter, gradually earning the respect of strong allies and coming in conflict with the shadowy organization, the top Claymores who support them, and many powerful Awakened Beings.
yoma (Ñýħ, y¨ma?) are a species of humanoid monsters that coexist with humans feeding on their organs. Most are similar in size to humans, though some are noticeably larger and more heavily muscled. Most have rows of stubby spikes growing from their upper backs, with elongated limbs that end in clawed digits, large fang-filled jaws and pointed ears, giving them a bestial appearance. Yoma have greater strength, speed, and durability compared to humans, and are capable of both regenerating afer being wounded and shape-shifting to appear completely human. Taken a step further, they can eat a human's brain to absorb their memories and completely replace them. Yoma are identified by their 'yoki' (ÑýšÝ, 'yoki'?), or life energy, which can be sensed by other yoma and by claymores.
Claymores are created by the organization to fight the yoma. By implanting Yoma flesh and blood into humans, they are able to create a hybrid that is more powerful than the source Yoma with their original human combat training and intelligence. This hybridization process changes the human's hair to a light-blond or white, their eyes to silver, and sometimes they develop elf-like ears. Claymores are stronger than typical humans, have an enhanced healing ability, and some limited shape-shifting abilities. In battle, claymores wield large claymore swords, hence their name. Claymores are endanger of losing control of their powers if they activate more than 80% of their yoma capabilities, changing them into a form of yoma called an "awakened being". The majority of claymores are female, as human males who are changed to hybrids tend to lose control of their powers faster. In an attempt to avoid this fate, claymores will ask a friend, usually another claymore, to kill them if they begin to awaken. Some rare claymores have been able to pass the 80% mark but avoid awakening, permanently increasing their strength. Such claymores are regarded with suspicion by the organization as they can't be sure if the claymore will be able to retain their control.
Awakened beings retain their original memories and intelligence that they had as a Claymore, but gaining the most basic bloodthirsty nature of a yoma. The "great shame" of the organization, the true nature of awakened beings is kept from the public. Instead, they are called "voracious eaters" and are proclaimed to be particularly old yoma who have gained greater experience due to their age. As they were originally human then claymores, the awakened beings are as varied as their sources, with differing personalities and appearances. As awakened beings are more powerful than regular yoma, and generally as strong as or stronger than many claymores, a team of at least four claymores is necessary to deal with them, lead by a top level claymore. It is originally believed that all awakened beings have lost their humanity, but as the series progresses, it is revealed that they do not always. The organization publicly denies this, while making use of such awakened beings.
Characters
Clare - When she was a child, a yoma made her part of its disguise and its toy, often torturing her. The yoma is killed by Teresa. Empathizing with Teresa's pain, Clare follows her for days without rest, food, or water. Teresa, after at first trying to get rid of Clare, eventually lets her travel with her, and the two became attached. The presence of a caring human in her life helps Teresa regain her lost happiness and humanity. Their life together is cut short when Teresa kills some human bandits to save Clare's life. The organization sends four of their best Claymores to execute Teresa, who is eventually killed by the awakened Priscilla.
Clare vows to take Priscilla's head in revenge, and searches for a member of the organization. Once she discovers one, she demands that the organization fuse her with Teresa's flesh and blood. Clare becomes the only person to volunteer to join the Claymores and the first hybrid with 1/4 Yoma blood instead of the normal 1/2. Because of this low demonic ratio, she has little power and is given rank #47 ¡ª the lowest. However, Clare shares Teresa's ability of heightened Yoki sensing to the point of being able to predict an opponent's moves. It is unknown whether this is a genetic inheritence or Claire chosing to follow in her mentor's footsteps. At one point, Miria ponders whether this is a deliberately chosen tactic in order to fight Awakened Beings.
Clare partially awakens during her fight in the holy city of Rabona, but is able to revert to her human state with Raki's help. She loses her right arm during an incident involving Ophelia, but later receives a new one from Irene, along with the "Quick Sword" technique. However her "Quick Sword" only has half the speed and power of Irene's. She once again comes close to Awakening during her battle against Dauf, but Galatea manipulates her yoki flow and brings her back. She then uses the same method to save Jeane from losing her mind to awakening.
In the Northern campaign, Clare joins Flora's party. Having grown significantly stronger she fights on the same level as her captain. During the fight against Rigardo, Clare is able to deliberately awaken parts of her body, while remaining mentally human. However, she finds herself unable to turn back after the fight. Jeane sacrifices herself to save Clare. She is the only member of her team to survive the Northern Campaign.
During the next seven years, Clare and six other surviving Claymores, would remain in seclusion causing the Organization to believe they had all perished. During this time, Clare would learn and master Flora's "Windcutter" technique. Clare also learned to combine the speed of the "Quicksword" technique with the power and precision of the "Windcutter" technique to create a new attack called "Flash Windcutter".
Despite the danger of being discovered and hunted by the Organization, Clare has returned to the southern lands to find Priscilla as well as continue her search for Raki. She has currently returned to Rabona and defeated the Awakened Being, Agatha. with help from her comrades. The Organization's current Number Four, Miata, upon witnessing their battle, indicated that Clare and her companions all have great power. Later, during a conversation with Cid and Galk, Clare learns that Raki is still alive and has been searching for her. Relieved that Raki survived, Clare is troubled when it is revealed that he is traveling with a small girl. To facilitate their movements, Miria has assigned Cynthia and Uma to accompany Clare on her search for Raki.
Anime Version
The plot is significantly different in the anime version. Clare defeated Rigardo with only the legs awakened. Clare confronted Priscilla immediately after her fight with Rigardo, awakening all four limbs. With the help of Miria, Helen, and Deneve, she defeated Priscilla but was stopped from ultimately killing her by Raki. Jeane sacrifices herself to save Clare from awakening. She and Raki then continue to travel together.
As a child, Clare was adopted by the Claymore Teresa. Teresa rebels against the organization and is subsequently killed, so Clare volunteers to become a Claymore using Teresa's flesh to take revenge on the Awakened Being, an exceptionally powerful form of Yoma, who killed her. With determination and her human friend Raki by her side, Clare overcomes her low demonic power by honing the skills she inherited from Teresa, and other Claymores. As the series progresses, she becomes stronger and a better fighter, gradually earning the respect of strong allies and coming in conflict with the shadowy organization, the top Claymores who support them, and many powerful Awakened Beings.
yoma (Ñýħ, y¨ma?) are a species of humanoid monsters that coexist with humans feeding on their organs. Most are similar in size to humans, though some are noticeably larger and more heavily muscled. Most have rows of stubby spikes growing from their upper backs, with elongated limbs that end in clawed digits, large fang-filled jaws and pointed ears, giving them a bestial appearance. Yoma have greater strength, speed, and durability compared to humans, and are capable of both regenerating afer being wounded and shape-shifting to appear completely human. Taken a step further, they can eat a human's brain to absorb their memories and completely replace them. Yoma are identified by their 'yoki' (ÑýšÝ, 'yoki'?), or life energy, which can be sensed by other yoma and by claymores.
Claymores are created by the organization to fight the yoma. By implanting Yoma flesh and blood into humans, they are able to create a hybrid that is more powerful than the source Yoma with their original human combat training and intelligence. This hybridization process changes the human's hair to a light-blond or white, their eyes to silver, and sometimes they develop elf-like ears. Claymores are stronger than typical humans, have an enhanced healing ability, and some limited shape-shifting abilities. In battle, claymores wield large claymore swords, hence their name. Claymores are endanger of losing control of their powers if they activate more than 80% of their yoma capabilities, changing them into a form of yoma called an "awakened being". The majority of claymores are female, as human males who are changed to hybrids tend to lose control of their powers faster. In an attempt to avoid this fate, claymores will ask a friend, usually another claymore, to kill them if they begin to awaken. Some rare claymores have been able to pass the 80% mark but avoid awakening, permanently increasing their strength. Such claymores are regarded with suspicion by the organization as they can't be sure if the claymore will be able to retain their control.
Awakened beings retain their original memories and intelligence that they had as a Claymore, but gaining the most basic bloodthirsty nature of a yoma. The "great shame" of the organization, the true nature of awakened beings is kept from the public. Instead, they are called "voracious eaters" and are proclaimed to be particularly old yoma who have gained greater experience due to their age. As they were originally human then claymores, the awakened beings are as varied as their sources, with differing personalities and appearances. As awakened beings are more powerful than regular yoma, and generally as strong as or stronger than many claymores, a team of at least four claymores is necessary to deal with them, lead by a top level claymore. It is originally believed that all awakened beings have lost their humanity, but as the series progresses, it is revealed that they do not always. The organization publicly denies this, while making use of such awakened beings.
Characters
Clare - When she was a child, a yoma made her part of its disguise and its toy, often torturing her. The yoma is killed by Teresa. Empathizing with Teresa's pain, Clare follows her for days without rest, food, or water. Teresa, after at first trying to get rid of Clare, eventually lets her travel with her, and the two became attached. The presence of a caring human in her life helps Teresa regain her lost happiness and humanity. Their life together is cut short when Teresa kills some human bandits to save Clare's life. The organization sends four of their best Claymores to execute Teresa, who is eventually killed by the awakened Priscilla.
Clare vows to take Priscilla's head in revenge, and searches for a member of the organization. Once she discovers one, she demands that the organization fuse her with Teresa's flesh and blood. Clare becomes the only person to volunteer to join the Claymores and the first hybrid with 1/4 Yoma blood instead of the normal 1/2. Because of this low demonic ratio, she has little power and is given rank #47 ¡ª the lowest. However, Clare shares Teresa's ability of heightened Yoki sensing to the point of being able to predict an opponent's moves. It is unknown whether this is a genetic inheritence or Claire chosing to follow in her mentor's footsteps. At one point, Miria ponders whether this is a deliberately chosen tactic in order to fight Awakened Beings.
Clare partially awakens during her fight in the holy city of Rabona, but is able to revert to her human state with Raki's help. She loses her right arm during an incident involving Ophelia, but later receives a new one from Irene, along with the "Quick Sword" technique. However her "Quick Sword" only has half the speed and power of Irene's. She once again comes close to Awakening during her battle against Dauf, but Galatea manipulates her yoki flow and brings her back. She then uses the same method to save Jeane from losing her mind to awakening.
In the Northern campaign, Clare joins Flora's party. Having grown significantly stronger she fights on the same level as her captain. During the fight against Rigardo, Clare is able to deliberately awaken parts of her body, while remaining mentally human. However, she finds herself unable to turn back after the fight. Jeane sacrifices herself to save Clare. She is the only member of her team to survive the Northern Campaign.
During the next seven years, Clare and six other surviving Claymores, would remain in seclusion causing the Organization to believe they had all perished. During this time, Clare would learn and master Flora's "Windcutter" technique. Clare also learned to combine the speed of the "Quicksword" technique with the power and precision of the "Windcutter" technique to create a new attack called "Flash Windcutter".
Despite the danger of being discovered and hunted by the Organization, Clare has returned to the southern lands to find Priscilla as well as continue her search for Raki. She has currently returned to Rabona and defeated the Awakened Being, Agatha. with help from her comrades. The Organization's current Number Four, Miata, upon witnessing their battle, indicated that Clare and her companions all have great power. Later, during a conversation with Cid and Galk, Clare learns that Raki is still alive and has been searching for her. Relieved that Raki survived, Clare is troubled when it is revealed that he is traveling with a small girl. To facilitate their movements, Miria has assigned Cynthia and Uma to accompany Clare on her search for Raki.
Anime Version
The plot is significantly different in the anime version. Clare defeated Rigardo with only the legs awakened. Clare confronted Priscilla immediately after her fight with Rigardo, awakening all four limbs. With the help of Miria, Helen, and Deneve, she defeated Priscilla but was stopped from ultimately killing her by Raki. Jeane sacrifices herself to save Clare from awakening. She and Raki then continue to travel together.