Post by Ryuu on Apr 1, 2009 12:55:24 GMT -5
Overview
Unlike the Shinigami, who use a sword as their primary weapon, the Quincy's weapon of choice is a bow. It is constructed from spiritual particles drawn from their surroundings, also unlike the Shinigami, who rely on their own innate spiritual energy (as a reflection of this, Quincies have white spirit threads like normal humans, while Shinigami have red spirit threads.)
Flashbacks in the anime show earlier Quincy using longbows or crossbows and firing spiritual arrows from them. Quincy bows are summoned using an artifact called a Quincy Cross. The only limit to a Quincy's ability to create and fire arrows is their own stamina and ability to absorb ambient spirit particles. Quincies also have various tools and battle aides that can increase their power or serve as secondary weapons.
Another contrast between the Shinigami and the Quincy are their methods. While Shinigami purify Hollows, thus preserving the balance of souls between the two worlds, the Quincy destroy hollows, former soul and all. In doing so, the balance between the worlds is slowly tipped towards one side, endangering both worlds. This danger led to a Quincy-Shinigami war, which ended in victory for the Shinigami and the deaths of many Quincy.
The Quincy line was closely monitored over the decades, as their numbers continued to dwindle. Later Quincy advanced the idea that since they were already among the living and still more numerous at the time, they could act as "first responders" to Hollow attacks, protecting humans until the less-numerous Shinigami could send a representative to finish the Hollow off.
Embittered by the recent war, the Shinigami refused to participate, opting instead to allocate their limited resources to reacting to the most dangerous hollows and current Hollow attacks.
Flashbacks in the anime show earlier Quincy using longbows or crossbows and firing spiritual arrows from them. Quincy bows are summoned using an artifact called a Quincy Cross. The only limit to a Quincy's ability to create and fire arrows is their own stamina and ability to absorb ambient spirit particles. Quincies also have various tools and battle aides that can increase their power or serve as secondary weapons.
Another contrast between the Shinigami and the Quincy are their methods. While Shinigami purify Hollows, thus preserving the balance of souls between the two worlds, the Quincy destroy hollows, former soul and all. In doing so, the balance between the worlds is slowly tipped towards one side, endangering both worlds. This danger led to a Quincy-Shinigami war, which ended in victory for the Shinigami and the deaths of many Quincy.
The Quincy line was closely monitored over the decades, as their numbers continued to dwindle. Later Quincy advanced the idea that since they were already among the living and still more numerous at the time, they could act as "first responders" to Hollow attacks, protecting humans until the less-numerous Shinigami could send a representative to finish the Hollow off.
Embittered by the recent war, the Shinigami refused to participate, opting instead to allocate their limited resources to reacting to the most dangerous hollows and current Hollow attacks.
Appearance
Quincy wear white, form-fitting, high-collared tunics. These bear some resemblance both to Mandarin Chinese dress and to the cassocks of Catholic priests this gives the Quincy a distinctly "foreign" or "Western" style compared with the Shinigami. One peculiar recurring motif of Quincy is that of a cross, which appears frequently on their uniforms and artifacts.
The cross is not the same shape among all Quincy (e.g. Uryū uses a Celtic cross, while Ryūken uses a pentacle). There is also a six-pointed cross that appears on the back of Uryū's Quincy tunic.
The cross is not the same shape among all Quincy (e.g. Uryū uses a Celtic cross, while Ryūken uses a pentacle). There is also a six-pointed cross that appears on the back of Uryū's Quincy tunic.
Combat
Powers & Abilities
Quincy Bow & Arrows
All Quincies have the ability to create a unique spirit bow, and subsequently generate spirit arrows for the bow, using a Quincy cross or pentacle. The bow and arrows are both made up completely of reiryoku from the users surroundings, and last as long as the wielder's stamina and reiryoku reserves allow
Reiryoku Absorption: Unlike Shinigami, who use their inner Reiryoku to fight, the Quincy fuel their abilities by absorbing the Reiryoku of their surroundings in the form of spirit particles. They primarily absorb them from the atmosphere, and have an easier time collecting this energy in environments with higher concentrations of spiritual particles, such as Soul Society or Hueco Mundo.
To a sufficiently powerful Quincy, there is no difference between spiritual particles and spiritual energy as a source of power.
Reiryoku Manipulation: One can manipulate spiritual energy for offensive purposes. They most commonly reshapes spiritual particles into various types of bow and arrows, but can also concentrate spiritual energy into the form of swords or explosives.
Quincy Combat
The Quincy can also use the energy they gather, or use silver tubes filled with spiritual energy (see below), to perform various offensive, supportive, and defensive techniques similar to the Shinigami Kidō.
A Quincy's power can be significantly enhanced using the Sanrei (散霊) glove. A Quincy needs to complete a week of intense training in order to be able to use the glove.
The glove operates by repelling spirit particles, making it far more difficult for the Quincy to summon their bow. Any Quincy who is able to successfully utilize their powers while wearing the glove can thus reach much higher levels of power. This training is also the basis for the Quincy final form.
Quincy items
The Quincy possess numerous artifacts and equipment which help them in different ways. Below are the ones that have been shown
Hollow bait — This item is a small, coin-shaped disk that attracts hollows when crushed. When used by Uryū, the bait, in combination with Ichigo's powerful spiritual pressure, was able to draw a Gillian-class Menos out of Hueco Mundo.
The Quincy Bangle (装身具, sōshingu) is an artifact, revealed in the anime-only Bount Arc. Uryū Ishida uses it to overcome the loss of his powers due to the Quincy Final form, after removing his Sanrei Glove. It is given to him by Nemu Kurotsuchi, under the orders of her father (and captain,) Mayuri Kurotsuchi.
The Research and Development Institute held on to the artifact so as to study it, and it is unknown exactly when it came into their possession. Nemu also stated that it was passed down the Quincy bloodline for generations, signifying it's value to the remaining Quincy.
Quincy cross (滅却十字, mekkyaku jūji Standard equipment for any Quincy, the Quincy Cross acts as the focus for a Quincy bow. The cross need not necessarily be in a cross shape, as Ryūken's cross is a pentacle.
Sanrei Glove
A Quincy's power can be significantly enhanced using the Sanrei Glove.
Seele Schneiders
Seele Schneiders (魂を切り裂くもの（ゼーレシュナイダー, German for Soul Cutter, Japanese for That which slits the soul) are sword-like weapons used by the Quincy. The Seele Schneiders Uryū uses are stolen from a secret storage room under Karakura hospital, and belong to his father, Ryūken Ishida.
Silver tubes (銀筒, gintō) — Silver tubes are small liquid-filled capsules that store spiritual energy, and are used by Quincy for spellcasting in the same way that Shinigami use kidō. Like kidō, they are activated by calling out various commands.