Post by Senkou on Sept 23, 2007 11:45:46 GMT -5
Shinigami are departed human souls that have gained supernatural powers. As such, their bodies are composed of ectoplasm and they can only be seen by otherspiritually aware entities, which excludes most humans. In the series, shinigami, as well as most other types of spirits, are quite capable of influencing their environment. Additionally, they can be injured and die like regular humans, though it takes considerably greater injuries for the latter to occur than it would in regular humans.
The most prominent supernatural power possessed by a shinigami is their zanpakutô, a supernatural sword generated from the shinigami's soul. Shinigami also naturally give off spiritual energy, which varies greatly in magnitude with the strength of a shinigami. A zanpakutô is a physical manifestation of this force concentrated into a blade.
Shinigami operations are based out of Soul Society, which is the afterlife in Bleach. Travel between the human world and Soul Society is extremely limited and monitored, but some shinigami are stationed in the human world to carry out their duties and therefore must often travel between the two. In addition, it is a crime for a shinigami to remain in the human world longer than a certain time limit. A shinigami's duties include leading Pluses (ghosts) to Soul Society in a practice called soul burial, and the cleansing of hollows. Later in the series, shinigami duties are clarified further, and it is revealed that they are also responsible for governing the flow of spirits between the human world and Soul Society.
Levels of Shinigami:
Squad Member- This is the lowest rank of Shinigami. Most squad members have not attained the first release of their zanpaktou at that point. Squad members can fight on equal level with weaker hollows, but stronger hollows and gillian class menos could easily wipe them out.
Seated Officer- A slightly higher rank of Shinigami. Most seated officers have attained the first release of their zanpaktou, though it is very rare for them to have the second release. There are 18 seated officers in every squad, excluding the lieutenant and captain. Seated officers are easily capable of defeating regular hollows, but may have trouble with a gillian.
Lieutenant- The third highest rank attainable. All lieutenants have attained their first release, though it is still rare to find one who has attained their second release. Their are 13 lieutenants, one for each squad. Most lieutenants are capable of fighting gillian class menos on equal level, but may have trouble with adjuchas class menos.
Captain- The second highest rank attainable. Most captains are expected to have attained the second release, except under special circumstances. There are 12 regular captains, one for squads 2-13. Most captains are capable of easily defeating adjuchas class menos, but Vasto Lorde could give them trouble.
Captain Commander- The highest rank attainable. The captain commander is the strongest Shinigami in all of Soul Society, and is capable of defeating at least two captains without injury. The captain commander is easily capable of wiping out a Vasto Lorde, but a complete arrancar may fight him/her on equal level.
The most prominent supernatural power possessed by a shinigami is their zanpakutô, a supernatural sword generated from the shinigami's soul. Shinigami also naturally give off spiritual energy, which varies greatly in magnitude with the strength of a shinigami. A zanpakutô is a physical manifestation of this force concentrated into a blade.
Shinigami operations are based out of Soul Society, which is the afterlife in Bleach. Travel between the human world and Soul Society is extremely limited and monitored, but some shinigami are stationed in the human world to carry out their duties and therefore must often travel between the two. In addition, it is a crime for a shinigami to remain in the human world longer than a certain time limit. A shinigami's duties include leading Pluses (ghosts) to Soul Society in a practice called soul burial, and the cleansing of hollows. Later in the series, shinigami duties are clarified further, and it is revealed that they are also responsible for governing the flow of spirits between the human world and Soul Society.
Levels of Shinigami:
Squad Member- This is the lowest rank of Shinigami. Most squad members have not attained the first release of their zanpaktou at that point. Squad members can fight on equal level with weaker hollows, but stronger hollows and gillian class menos could easily wipe them out.
Seated Officer- A slightly higher rank of Shinigami. Most seated officers have attained the first release of their zanpaktou, though it is very rare for them to have the second release. There are 18 seated officers in every squad, excluding the lieutenant and captain. Seated officers are easily capable of defeating regular hollows, but may have trouble with a gillian.
Lieutenant- The third highest rank attainable. All lieutenants have attained their first release, though it is still rare to find one who has attained their second release. Their are 13 lieutenants, one for each squad. Most lieutenants are capable of fighting gillian class menos on equal level, but may have trouble with adjuchas class menos.
Captain- The second highest rank attainable. Most captains are expected to have attained the second release, except under special circumstances. There are 12 regular captains, one for squads 2-13. Most captains are capable of easily defeating adjuchas class menos, but Vasto Lorde could give them trouble.
Captain Commander- The highest rank attainable. The captain commander is the strongest Shinigami in all of Soul Society, and is capable of defeating at least two captains without injury. The captain commander is easily capable of wiping out a Vasto Lorde, but a complete arrancar may fight him/her on equal level.